Rita Florence Bishop

May 24, 1931 - March 4, 2022

Rita Florence Bishop, age 90, of Dixon, IL passed away peacefully on Friday, March 4, 2022, at Heritage Square in Dixon with her family at her side. She was born on May 24, 1931, in Montmorency Township in Whiteside County, the daughter of Maurice and Isabel (Ribordy) McCormick. Rita married Terry Bishop on August 17, 1957, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Tampico. Rita taught first grade for 35 years, beginning in a one-room schoolhouse in Tampico, continuing in Dixon (Lincoln and Jefferson), and retiring after 22 years at Sherman Elementary School in the Williamsville Illinois School District. Rita completed her Bachelors and Masters degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield (Sangamon State University) while working full time and raising her three children. Through her long career she gave hundreds of children the gift of reading and always strived to “catch them being good.” A life-long devout Catholic, she is a member of St. Anne Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers John and Howard McCormick, one sister Maxine Buyers. Rita is survived by her husband of 64 years, Terry, children Terry J. (Elizabeth) Bishop of Andover, MN, Christopher R. (Judy) Bishop of Kalispell, MT, and Erin (Andrew Cadigan) Bishop of Falmouth, ME; 6 grandchildren Colin Bishop, Peter (Jackie) Bishop, Kelsey (Collin) Blahut, Nathan Bishop, Ivan Cadigan, and Rhys Cadigan; great grandchildren Jackson, Killian, Lennox, Hayden, Maddox, Freyja, Sophia, and Owen. She is also survived by her dear sister, Marjorie Staelens of Dixon as well as many much-loved nieces and nephews. Among many other things, Rita is remembered for her intelligence and work ethic, her kindness and generosity, her humor and Irish wit, the silly and inventive nicknames she bestowed upon everyone and everything, and her beautiful singing voice. She was warm and gracious, known for her beautiful smile and sense of style. She will be deeply missed. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022, at 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anne Catholic Church in Dixon. There will be a luncheon following the service. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Prophetstown at 2:00 PM. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the Jones Funeral Home in Dixon on Friday, March 11, 2022. A memorial has been established to Heritage Square in Dixon where Rita received heartfelt care and love from the wonderful staff there.