Rita Guajardo, nee Martinez, 89, of Melrose Park, formerly of River Forest, died on May 3, 2014. Born in Oklahoma City, Okla. to Cruz and Priscilla Martinez, she graduated from Mt. St. Mary's High School. She began working for IBEW Local 1031 as a clerk at the age of 40 and retired at the age of 75 as the executive manager of that organization's credit union. 

Newly married and with her husband, Raphael, in the military, she lived near military 

bases in Mississippi and South Carolina. In 1946, when her husband came home from military service in Europe, they moved to Chicago. In 1976, she moved to River Forest, where she lived until 2003, and then to Melrose Park. She was an avid Chicago sports fan. 

Rita Guajardo is survived by her children, Raphael, Toni (Michael) Campbell, Irene Guajardo (John Gawne), Cruz, Michael, John, Lisa (Jason) Douglas and Patricia Quane; 17 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; her siblings, Vincent (Paula and the late Carmen) Martinez, John (Danna) Martinez, Monica Sandoval and Cruz Martinez; her sister-in-law, Irene Barba; many nieces and nephews; and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raphael; her son, Paul Guajardo; and her sister, Maria (the late Gerald) Pryor. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 9, from 3 to 9 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park. On Saturday, May 10, family and friends will meet at Ascension Church, 808 S. East Ave in Oak Park for Mass at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Angela School, 1332 N. Massasoit Ave., Chicago, IL 60651 will be greatly appreciated by the family.