Rita Anne Gibbons

Our precious mother Rita Anne Gibbons passed away Friday April 24th 2026 surrounded by her children that she had devoted her life to.

She was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 21, 1932 and lived there until she was 7 when they moved to Indianapolis. Rita was very proud to have graduated from her beloved Marian College, (now Marian University) in 3 years. She later reconnected with the love of her life Jon Patrick Gibbons and married in 1956. They were both devout Catholics and proud of their heritage, her father a Polish Catholic, her mother a Lithuanian Catholic and her husband’s parents were Irish and German Catholics.

They built a life of love together having raised 9 children together before he passed in 1991 after nearly 35 years of marriage, she missed him terribly up to her death.

She avidly followed the stock market and was a brilliant bridge player.

Her greatest sorrow was losing her youngest child Sheila Catherine Smith after a battle with brain cancer in 2024.

She is survived by her 8 children, her 24 grandchildren and her more than a dozen (and counting) great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. with rosary prayers to be said at 11 a.m. and the funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29th at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2312 East Campbell Avenue, Phoenix.