Chesterton resident and Duneland history buff Rita A. Skeffington, 63, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003, at Porter Memorial Hospital.

She was born Jan. 5, 1940, in Chicago, the daughter of James and Estelle (Peterman) Roche, who preceded her in death.

On Nov. 14, 1964, in Chicago, she married Shaun F. Skeffington, who survives in Chesterton.

She is also survived by two sons, Shaun M. (wife Kathy) Skeffington of Chesterton and James J. (wife Elizabeth) Skeffington of England; a daughter, Heather A. Skeffington of Gary; a sister-in-law, Barbara Roche of Berwyn, Ill.; an aunt, Veronica O’Niel; and nephews and nieces Amy and Jim Roche and Margaret, Michelle, and Jack Skeffington.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Shannon Hayder; and by a brother, James Roche.

An area resident for 33 years, she was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church as well as a member of the parish council. She received a B.A. degree from St. Xavier College in Chicago and taught at Visitation Grammar School in Chicago, then later at Brummitt and Bailly elementary school in Duneland. From 1984 through 1987 she ran a family business, Skeff’s Men and Women’s Fashions in Chesterton. She also worked at the Indian Oak Resort and most recently as a sales associate at Chesterton Feed & Garden.

She was widely known as a local history buff and had a wide knowledge of Duneland and Northwest Indiana and enjoyed sharing her knowledge on tours of the area. Family and home came first in her life and she always met all tasks and challenges vigorously.

A Mass of Christian Burial, Father James Meade officiating, is scheduled for 12 p.m. Monday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 638 N. Calumet Road in Chesterton. She will be interred at Chesterton Cemetery.

Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday with a wake service at 6 p.m. at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway in Chesterton.

Memorials may be made to the Shannon Skeffington Scholarship Fund at Chesterton High School.

Posted 12/26/2003