Rita Elizabeth (Baker) Creque

Rita Elizabeth Creque, age 102, passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

She has completed her life’s journey and now resides with the Lord. “Well done, my good and faithful servant, come and share in My Master’s joy.”

Born on March 18, 1921, in East Toledo, Ohio to Philomena and Alfred Baker, she grew up on the farm in Berkey, Ohio with her one brother and five sisters. On August 22, 1940, she married Florian Creque, and in 1951 they moved to their long-time home in Lambertville, Michigan, raising their six children and a granddaughter there. They were married 57 years when Florian passed away in 1997. Rita moved to Hastings, Michigan in 2012 to be near her family.

Rita worked as a cashier for Kroger and Janney’s Hardware for years where she enjoyed the people she met, many becoming good friends. She was an active member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church for over 60 years, belonging to Christian Mothers, working funeral luncheons and the “boutique” at their semi-annual rummage sales. She joined St. Rose after moving to Hastings. Her interests were plentiful, and “bored” was not in her vocabulary. She especially enjoyed family, spending time with friends in nursing homes, music, working in her flower beds on Summerfield Road, saying her daily rosary, her holy hour time at St. Anthony’s, reading, estate sales, furniture fix-up, and fun times with the five sisters and friends along the way, most recently at Pennock Village and Woodlawn Meadows in Hastings. A little-known fact is that Rita went to work outside the home in order for her children to attend Catholic Schools. She led by example and raised her children to be hard workers with a good work ethic. In later years on rides through the countryside or down the expressway she refused to nap, saying she might miss something.

Having a full life, she will be missed by her family and many friends. Clyde (Mary) Creque of Alma, Michigan, Denise Creque (Loren Egger) of Whitmore Lake, Michigan, Marcia (Jim) Mellen of Hastings, Michigan, George Creque of Elwell, Michigan, Carol Creque (Sandy Remy) of Phoenix, Arizona, and Juanita Mann of Elwell, Michigan. A son, Thomas passed away in 1968, and her best friend brother, Francis Baker, in 2007 and sister Phyllis in 2020. She also has four grandchildren: Karen (Neil) Ebert, Monica (Brad) Crandell, Elena (Charles) Kroll, Steven Tran-Creque, fourteen great grandchildren and two great stepsons, four extraordinary sisters, forty-seven nieces and nephews.

Many thanks and God Bless you for your caring, sharing and friendship with Rita. You have all given her so much joy, laughter, and memories, ending with over 200 hundred birthday cards on her 100th . A special thanks to the staff of Woodlawn Meadows who have cared for her. In memory of Rita, be kind, be grateful, be generous, and laugh often.

Friends may call at the Reeb Funeral Home, 5712 N. Main Street, Sylvania, Ohio, Thursday, March 30th from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. The Funeral Mass will be Celebrated at the Saint Anthony Catholic Church, Temperance, Michigan, Friday, March 31st at 11:00 am, where family and friends may gather one-hour prior. She will be laid to rest beside Florian and their son, Tom, at Saint Anthony Cemetery.

Those wishing to offer memorials in Rita’s memory are asked to consider the Saint Anthony Parish, Saint Rose of Lima, Smile Train, or the charity of one’s choice. Online condolences to reebfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rita Elizabeth (Baker) Creque, please visit our floral store.