Rita Mae Batta's Obituary
Rita Mae Batta, age 91 of Sunman, Indiana, passed away on Monday, July 6, 2026. Born May 18, 1935, in Franklin County Indiana, she is the daughter of Jacob and Jennie (Nee: Connor) Heppner. She married Bernard “Ben” Batta Jr. on May 17, 1958, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg, Indiana.
Rita loved to chat and talk with everyone and was a social butterfly who never knew a stranger. She loved her family, especially the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family remembers gathering around the table for her extensive meals and the wonderful dessert pies, cakes and cookies that she and Ben would make together. Rita was born and raised on the family farm in Oldenburg until she and Ben started their own family farm in Dearborn County.
She enjoyed mowing grass and attending to her many flower beds . She spent her life as a servant of God in St. Paul’s Catholic Church in New Alsace. Returning to Holy Family Parish in Oldenburg which she dearly loved.
She is survived by her husband Ben Batta of Sunman; sons Jeff Batta of Oldenburg and Doug (Angie) Batta of Sunman; son-in-law Todd Russell of Moores Hill, Indiana; seven grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Rita was preceded in death by her daughter Debra Russell; sisters Roumilda Loaring, Mary Heppner, Freda Cronin, Leona Burbank, and Emma Ryan; brothers Lawrence Heppner, Elmer “Pete” Heppner, and Lambert Heppner.
Visitation is Saturday, July 11th, from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m., at Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m., at the church, with Fr. John Barker, O.F.M. officiating. Burial will be at Holy Family Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Church. If unable to attend the visitation, memorials may be sent in c/o Weigel Funeral Home, PO Box 36, Batesville, Indiana 47006.
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