Rita I. (Donaldson) Gasparin, 94, of Springfield, died on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, at Mill Creek Alzheimer's Special Care Center in Springfield.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Sept. 20, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home with Judy Woerner officiating. Burial will take place at Camp Butler National Cemetery.
Mrs. Gasparin was born Sept. 16, 1923, in Nokomis, to Frank and Matilda (Mast) Donaldson, and was raised by her loving guardians Frances Cross and Patrick Cray. She married Stephen Gasparin on May 18, 1946, in Kincaid, and he preceded her in death.
She graduated from Taylorville High School, and began her career at Illinois Consolidated as an operator. She then worked for Sangamo Electric in Springfield.
After her employment at Sangamo Electric, Mrs. Gasparin stayed home to raise her children. Once her children were older, she later worked at Zales and Sangamo Electric in North Carolina, where she retired.
She was a terrific dancer, an incredible seamstress and enjoyed tending to her rose garden. She was famous for her fried chicken, pasta and pies.
Mrs. Gasparin is survived by her children, Pamela (husband John M.) Crombie of Winthrop Harbor and Rick (partner Linda Whitehead) Gasparin of Springfield; three grandchildren, Carla (husband Dan) Fitzgerald of Springfield and Kimberly Czech, M.D., PhD and Katherine Crombie, both of Chicago; four great-grandchildren, Ryan, Connor, Kyle and Anna Fitzgerald; two half-brothers, David and Andrew Donaldson; and a stepbrother, Bob Millburg.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; six siblings; and several half-siblings.
Memorials may be directed to Kenosha Forgotten Friends, P.O. Box 831, Kenosha, WI 53141 or by visiting www.kenoshaforgottenfriends.org.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.butlerfuneralhomes.com.
