Racine – Ruth Mae (nee: Monfeli) Zikowski, 83, went to share the rest of her life with our lord Jesus Christ on July 19, 2007. She passed peacefully at Lincoln Village Convalesant Center. A lifelong Racine resident, she was born May 1, 1924 to Frank and Anna (nee: Christopher) Monfeli. Ruth was united in marriage to John Zikowski on January 25, 1947 at Sacred Heart Church. After graduating from Horlick High School, she started her work career in an accounting office in Racine. She then worked in the office at Massey-Ferguson. After marriage and starting a family, she worked retail at the JC Penny store in downtown Racine. She then worked for her brother Dick at the Rainfair outlet store (Richard’s Mensware) which he owned. Around 1960 Ruth started working at the JI Case Company as a secretary in the Engineering Division located at the old south works. She retired from Case in 1980. She and John loved to travel and went on cruises around the Caribbean. She also had a chance to travel to Italy and visit the area of her Italian ancestors. Another enjoyment was gambling trips to various casinos around Wisconsin and Minnesota, plus bus trips to casinos in Mississippi. Ruth and John also took a few trips to Las Vegas and bus trips up and down both coasts of the United States. They were members of St. Lucy Catholic Church for many years and were members of the Lucyniors group. She also was active with the Vittoria Colona at Roma Lodge, and helped out for many years at the Roma Lodge festival. Ruth loved singing and was a member of the St. Lucy Choir. Two special trips that she always talked about was a trip to Spain with her grand-daughter Marsha as a chaperone with Marsha’s high school Spanish class. It just so happened that two other ladies on the trip were Ruth’s friends and they really enjoyed keeping up with the young girls on the trip. The three were nicknamed the “Golden Girls”. The other special trip was a cruise Ruth took with her grand-daughter Kim and one of Kim’s friends. The trip was a graduation present from Ruth to Kim. A ring that Kim and her friend bought Ruth as a thank you for the trip was a prized possession of Ruth and never left her finger. Up until two years ago, Ruth still got together with high school classmates for lunch and also attended and helped coordinate many reunions. Ruth was preceded in death by her par ents, Frank and Anna Monfeli, her brothers Dick and Bob Monfeli, and her husband of 50 years, John. Ruth’s survivors include her son, Tom (Mary Jo) Zikowski of Racine, Grandson Brian (Mandy) Zikowski of Racine, Grand-daughters Marsha and Kim Zikowski of Milwaukee, Great-grandsons Zackary and Owen Zikowski of Racine, sisters-in-law Mrs Dick (Phyllis) Monfeli and Mrs. Bob (Janice) Monfeli, both of Racine.. She will be dearly missed by many nieces, nephews, and many other friends and relatives. The concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 23, 2007 in St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3101 Drexel Ave., at 11:00 am with Rev. Mark R. Jones and Rev. Jeffrey M. Thielen officiating. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum. Visitation will be in the funeral home, 4600 County Line Rd., on Sunday from 5-7 pm and in the church on Monday from 10-11 am. Memorials can be directed to St. Lucy Church for a special fund to help defray costs for the choir. Ruth’s family would like to thank the care- givers at New Beginnings Group Homes and Lincoln Village Convalescent Center for their care and compassion during Ruth’s final two years of life.
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