Rita A. Scheller, 67, of Fort Branch, passed away Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011 at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville.

Born July 22, 1944 in Evansville, she was the daughter of Stephen and Anna (Vowels) Turpen.

Rita was retired from the Evansville State Hospital as a registered nurse. She was a member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Fort Branch.

Rita is survived by five children, Kent Scheller and Kelli Goedde both of Haubstadt, Scott Scheller of Fort Branch,  Chris Scheller of Cynthiana, Todd Scheller of Evansville,; her mother, Anna Turpen of Evansville; a brother, Ralph Turpen; two sisters, Margaret Gries and Ruth Rager all of Evansille; and 14 grandchildren, Allison, Jackie, and Sydney Goedde, Noah, Isaac, Luke, Payton, Jordan,Griffin, Malorie, Mason, Nicholas, Abby, and Jacob Scheller.

She is preceded in death by her father, Stephen Turpen; a sister, Rebecca Turpen; and a grandson, Matthew Scheller.

A Mass of Christian burial wiil be at 11 a.m. Wednesday,  Aug. 17, 2011 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Fort Branch, with Father Tony Ernst as the celebrant. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011 at Stodghill Funeral Home on Ind. 168 West in Fort Branch, and again from 9 a.m. until service time at the church on Wednesday.

A rosary will be recited by the church parish at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.