Zita Marie Rohlfing

Zita Marie Rohlfing, 98, passed away peacefully at her home in Cleveland, MN on Saturday, February 24, 2024.  

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 4, 2024 at the Church of the Nativity in Cleveland, Fr. Michael Barsness officiating. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery–Scotch Lake, Cleveland. Visitation will be from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 3, 2024 at the St. Peter Funeral Home in St. Peter, MN with recitation of the rosary at 5:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour before the funeral mass at the church. Livestreaming will be available on Zita’s obituary page at www.saintpeterfuneralhome.com.

Zita was born on July 14, 1925 in Mankato, MN to Adolph and Iverna (Miller) Fasnacht. She attended All Saints Grade School in Madison Lake and Mankato High School.  As a young woman, she held a variety of employment positions in hospitality and customer service.  Zita was united in marriage to Robert J. Rohlfing on September 5, 1953 at All Saints Catholic Church in Madison Lake.  They made their home in Cleveland where she was a homemaker and assisted in the family business.  Zita and Bob had a very deep affection and appreciation for one another and shared abundant happiness in their marriage.

Zita was deeply religious and lived her life accordingly. She was a member of the Church of the Nativity, the Nativity CCW and taught Religious Education at the church for decades.  She participated in the March for Life rallies at the State Capitol and was a member of the Legion of Mary. Zita’s greatest joys were her spiritual journeys to the Holy Land and Rome, where she made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and attended mass at the Vatican.  She met Pope John Paul II on two occasions, which was a highlight of her life. Zita had extensive ties and friendships with those in the Catholic religious community, as well as organizations that served the needy and poor, such as Caring and Sharing Hands, St. Joseph’s Home for Children - both in Minneapolis, and Catholic Charities.

Zita chose family as her foremost calling.  She loved her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, siblings and extended family unconditionally.   Throughout her life, she made it a priority to be a positive role model, take a genuine interest in others and promote peace and kindness. Zita was also very well known for her quick wit, dry sense of humor and always had a twinkle in her eye. She took great interest in world affairs and different cultures, had a strong appreciation for music and enjoyed the birds in her backyard. Hearing the daily Angelus bells brought her immense joy.  Her family considered it a great treasure to have been able to care for Zita in her home until the time of her passing.  She embodied the true definition of grace, especially in her later years of life.

Left to remember Zita are her children:  Robert Rohlfing, Jr. of Madison, WI, Joseph (Mary Jean) Rohlfing of Cleveland, Teresa Collins of Le Center, Richard (Barbara) Rohlfing of Madison Lake, and Julie (Dave) Collins of North Mankato; eleven beloved grandchildren: Antonia Rohlfing of Nashville, TN, Stefanie Rohlfing of Cleveland, Rachel (Aaron) Zurek of Mankato, Joseph (Carly) Rohlfing of Mendota Heights, Abigail (fiancé William Bailey) Rohlfing of New York, NY, Matthew (Meghan) Collins of Le Center, Bridget Collins of Le Center, Valentina Rohlfing of Madison Lake, Jake Collins of Washington, D.C., Daniel Collins of Minneapolis, and Patrick Collins of Prior Lake; seven great-grandchildren: Connor Rohlfing, Josephine and Theodore Zurek, Jude, Beckham and Lennon Rohlfing, and Cooper Collins.  Zita is also survived by her sister, Tilda Schneider of Madison Lake; sisters-in-law: June Fasnacht and Georgia Fasnacht, both of Mankato; her step son Paul’s wife, Ann Rohlfing of Cleveland; her step sons’ children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she loved as her own; many nieces, nephews and friends. 

Zita was preceded in death by her husband, Robert in 1987; her mother and father; her step sons: John Rohlfing and Paul Rohlfing; four brothers: Jerome (Evie) Fasnacht, Cyril (Iverna) Fasnacht, Robert Fasnacht and Joseph (Marcella) Fasnacht; five sisters: Helen (Louis) Chatleain, Lorraine (Francis) Schraml, Sally (Tony) Reintjes, Dorothy (John) Rohlfing, Lucille (Lyle) Grothe; two sisters-in-law: Helen Rohlfing and Margaret (Richard) Behrends; step granddaughters: Susan McCabe and Janet Rohlfing; step great-granddaughters: Kari Koppelman and Courtney Rohlfing; and many special nieces, nephews and precious friends.

The family wishes to thank those who provided friendship, help and compassionate care to Zita throughout her life, especially care provider, Kathy.  

Zita was truly a blessing to her family, friends, community and all who knew her. 

May perpetual light shine upon her.