Rita J. Emge, 82, of Fort Branch, IN, passed away on June 11th, 2006 at the Deaconess Hospice Care Center in Evansville, IN.

Rita was born on August 2nd, 1923 in Haubstadt, IN to the late Edward G. and Matilda M. (Heitzman) Riffert.

She entertained many local residents with her skits of Winnie Pearl. Rita was good about visiting friends and relatives in the nursing home, and was a devoted mother and grandmother. Rita was a member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Fort Branch, IN where she sang in the funeral choir. She was a graduate of Haubstadt High School.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by 2 brothers and 2 sisters Virgil and Vernus Riffert , Revella Wilm, and Ruth Whitten. Rita was also preceded in death by a grand daughter, Lori Sermersheim.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Robert G. Emge, and 4 children, Stan (Becky) Emge of Haubstadt, IN, Cindy (Bob) Shoulders of Evansville, IN, Pat (Kent) Sermersheim of Bloomington, IN, and Terri (Alan) Chamberlain of Darmstadt, IN. Rita is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Alicia Padgett, Alex Shoulders, Zach and Luke Chamberlain, Chase Emge, and Ali Sermersheim and 1 great grandchild, Taylor Chamberlain.

A mass of Christian burial will be conducted at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Fort Branch, IN on Thursday, June 15th at 11:00 A.M. with Fathers Tony Ernst and Paul Ferguson being the celebrants. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 14th, 2006 at the Stodghill Funeral Home located on Hwy. 168 West in Fort Branch, IN from 3:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. and again on Thursday morning at the church from 9:00A.M., until 10:45 A.M. A rosary will be recited by the church parish on Wednesday at 7:30 P.M. at the funeral home.