Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Rita Clare (Patricia Ann) Kristoff, 84, died May 11 in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.

Sister Rita Clare made her first religious profession with the School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King in Lemont in 1958. She transferred her vows to the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1995.

Her ministry was dedicated to elementary education. As a Franciscan sister, she taught for 30 years, working extensively with children with learning disabilities in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Indiana and Illinois. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Stephen School and Sacred Heart School.

 As a Dominican sister, Sister Rita Clare ministered in Illinois and taught at St. Thomas More School and St. Basil School and served as resource person and helped children with special needs at St. Thomas the Apostle School. She also served as catechist at Divine Infant Parish, Westchester.