Rita Marie Hardiek Hunnicutt, 90 of Effingham, passed into her heavenly home, fortified by the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, at 9:50 p.m. Thursday, January 26, 2017. She was surrounded by her sister, Margie, nephew, Jerry, niece, Bonnie Steppe and Fr. Ralph at HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 30, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham with burial in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Dieterich. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials in memory of Marie can be made to Catholic Charities or Mass intentions. Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes.

Marie was born in Dieterich, the eldest child of Lawrence "Slim" and Josephine (Mette) Hardiek. She married the love of her life, Robert "Bob" Hunnicutt, in 1956. They met in Effingham, when Robert was a Marine on recruiting duty. Robert preceded her in death in 2004.

Marie attended Dieterich Schools and graduated from Teutopolis High School. (Dieterich only had a 3 year High School at the time.)

Marie travelled with Robert, as a Marine's wife and lived in California, Maine, and retired in North Carolina. During Marie's professional career she worked as a secretary. Her last job, and the one she was most proud of, was with the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. Marie was a very devout and faithful Catholic who loved her Church, Family, and Friends.

Marie moved to Effingham in 2011 where she resided at the Glenwood Assisted Living Facility. At the facility, she was treated with kindness and care by a compassionate and skilled staff. In July 2016, she moved to the Willowbrook Memory Care Unit. During her time there, she was treated with the same respect, love, and caring that she had previously received at the Glenwood.

Marie is survived by two sisters, Margie Utz of Denver, CO and Barbara Kolarsick-Harrigan of Spring Lake, NJ; sisters-in-law, Sharon (Hunnicutt) Hoehne, and Kay Hardiek; also many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband; siblings, Gerald 'Bud' Hardiek, Raymond Hardiek, John Hardiek, James Hardiek, Irene Steppe; brothers-in-law, George Steppe, Albert Kolarsick and Garry Utz; sisters-in-law, Luella Hardiek and Marjorie Hardiek; nephews, Christopher Utz and Richard Hardiek; nieces, Tracey Hardiek and Jamie Martinez.

At the end of her life, she received professional and compassionate care by the ER and Third Floor Staff at HSHS Saint Anthony Hospital, Dr. Jeff Brummer, Dr. Thomas Heischmidt, and Dr. Jason Mcallaster.