Rita Theresa McFadden

Rita Theresa (Ligda) McFadden passed away peacefully on Friday, July 17, 2026 at Rosedale Green Nursing Home in Latonia, Kentucky at the age of 100 years. Rita was born to John and Mary (Kocik) Ligda on December 19, 1925, in Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. She was the eleventh of fourteen children.

Rita moved to Gary, Indiana in 1944. Shortly thereafter, the government initiated and financed a nursing program for qualified students. Rita was accepted into the program and earned her Registered Nurse degree from St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. While in nursing school, she met the love of her life, Charles R. (Bud) McFadden. They married in 1948, moved to Crown Point, Indiana and had two children – Charles Stephen and MaryKay. Rita and Bud loved to travel and had 67 years together before he passed away in 2015.

Rita started her career at James O. Parramore Hospital, a tuberculosis sanitorium, administering care to tuberculosis patients. Later, she was recruited to be a school nurse and spent 29 years caring for students in the Crown Point Community School Corporation. In 1983 Rita was named Indiana School Nurse of the Year. She retired in 1986.

Rita is remembered by many for her kind, service-oriented approach to life. She was dedicated to her family and devoted to her Catholic faith. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Church in Crown Point and the parish’s Altar and Rosary Society. In her later years, she volunteered with Bud at the Lake County Historical Museum, greeting guests who visited the museum.

In 2019, Rita moved from Crown Point to Northern Kentucky. She lived independently in the St. Charles Community in Ft. Wright, Kentucky, until she was almost 100 years old. She celebrated her 100th birthday with her family and all her friends and caregivers in her new home at Rosedale Green in Latonia, Kentucky.

In addition to her husband, Rita was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary (Kocik) Ligda, and all her siblings: John, Michael, Victor, Mary, Ann, Andrew, Joseph, Elizabeth, James, Francis, Robert, Edward, and Eleanor.

She is survived by her son, Charles S. McFadden (Mary Jo), daughter, MaryKay Ruble (Todd), grandchildren, Monica McFadden Halt (Andrew), Matthew Ruble, Christopher Ruble (partner Jessica Dailey and her daughter Isabella Dailey), and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place at the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel at Thomas More University in Crestview Hills, Kentucky on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 10:00 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M. and a reception immediately following the Mass.

A second visitation will take place at Geisen Funeral Home in Crown Point, Indiana, on Saturday, August 22, starting at 10:00 A.M. followed by a Memorial Service at 11:30 A.M. and a reception immediately following the Memorial Service. She will be laid to rest in Maplewood Memorial Cemetery in Crown Point.

Rita requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to The Kentucky Talking Book Library (P.O. Box 537, Frankfort, KY 40602) and/or the Kenton County Public Library Foundation (3095 Hulbert Avenue, Erlanger, KY 41018).

Rita’s family thanks all the caregivers and staff at St. Charles Community, Rosedale Green, and St. Elizabeth Hospice for the love they showed Rita during the last few years of her life.