Sister Rita Rose Bily, CDP, entered eternal life on November 11 at the age of 91. Born on February 7, 1924 in Praha, Texas, she was the second oldest of six children of Frank and Rosie (Okruhlik) Bily. She entered the Sisters of Divine Providence on June 4, 1946 and professed first vows on June 22, 1949. Sister Rita Rose was raised on the family farm in Praha, Texas. As the oldest (living) child, she tended the farm alongside her father. Her sense of obligation to the needs of her family kept her from entering the convent at an earlier age. She gladly harrowed, planted and cultivated their land but explained, "never plowed." To her surprise, she was asked to join the dietary service of the convent. Not knowing how to cook, she learned as she went along. Her perseverance and strong call to service were key to her 38 years of successful meal preparation for the Sisters, boys at Moye Military School in Castroville, Texas, and boarders in Palestine, Texas. Later, she served as the Sacred Heart Chapel Reservations Manager for 19 years. She assisted 700+ weddings and became well versed in the logistics and needs for the Sacrament of Marriage. She filled in for priests who were unable to attend wedding rehearsals and graciously assisted many brides who expressed their appreciation for her calmness, organization and professionalism. Despite her busy weekends, she found time on Sundays to babysit the infants who resided and were cared for at "Providence Home" a congregational ministry for HIV positive babies and children. Sister Rita Rose was the person many sought to fill a void because she was a quick learner who willingly and successfully accepted challenges. Her reliability, promptness and assistance were qualities many sought and admired. She is survived by her siblings, Monica Melnar and Msgr. John Bily, nieces, nephews and cousins, including Msgr. Lambert Bily, and all her other Sisters of Divine Providence. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Rosie Okruhlik Bily, infant brother Frank, siblings Msgr. Edward Bily, and Lucy Lednicky, brothers-in-law Jim Lednicky and Joe Melnar and CDP Aunts: Sisters Monica Okruhlik, Cyprian Okruhlik and Eustacia Okruhlik. The Rosary is Sunday, November 15 at 4:30 p.m. and the Wake at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Resurrection will be Monday, November 16 at 10:30 a.m. All services will be in Annunciation Chapel at Our Lady of the Lake Convent. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Divine Providence, 515 S.W. 24th Street, San Antonio, TX 78207-4619.