Rita Elisabeth Cvikl, age 77, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2016, after a more than 30 year battle with ovarian cancer in her home in Aiken, SC, surrounded by her family. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister. She was born on April 19, 1938, in Homburg/Saar, Germany, to the late Friederich and Franziska (Steiner) Eikerling. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Vienna, Austria, and worked as a French translator. On December 31, 1960, she married Ernst T. Cvikl in Homburg/Saar, Germany. They moved to Vienna, Austria, where they had two daughters, immigrated to the US in 1969 and lived in California, Michigan, where their son was born and Texas before finally settling in Aiken, SC, where they have lived for 26 years. Rita had many talents and wide ranging interests. She started knitting when she was five years old and cooking soon thereafter. She was an excellent cook and baker and she created beautiful needlework and other fine crafts that are cherished by her family and friends to whom she gifted them. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, she was a Scout Mother and taught needle work to Bechtel wives. For many years she volunteered distributing Meals on Wheels in the Valley and worked one shift per week at ACTS sorting clothes. She and her husband visited various Nursing Homes in Aiken. She loved to entertain, play games of all sorts, including bridge and was a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. The most important focus in her life was her Catholic faith. In Aiken she was an adorer at Ste. Claire Chapel and an hourly coordinator for this service from the start at St. Mary's Catholic Church. At the same church she also was a Eucharistic Minister. For many years in Houston and Aiken, Rita and Ernst invited parishioners to their home for Small Christian Communities Bible Study. In her battle with cancer she was an inspiration to many people due to her strong faith. Her positive outlook on life and strong faith will be remembered by all who knew her. She is survived by her husband of 55 years Ernst T. Cvikl of Aiken, SC; children Kornelia (Jim) Mitchell of British Columbia, Canada, and Alexander (Renee) Cvikl of Columbia, SC; grandchildren Nicholas Simons and Angela Bonner, Michigan, and Aquilina Mitchell (BC, Canada); great-granddaughters, Athena and Michaela Bonner; brothers Dr. Gerard (Ingrid) Eikerling and Dr. Bruno Eikerling, both of Germany; as well as brothers-in-law Magister Walter (Hilde) and Dr. Herbert (Margit) Cvikl of Vienna, Austria; close relatives Hans (Inge) Fremgen and Annemarie Neumar of Germany; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, step-father Andreas Fremgen, and daughter, Monika Burke. The family wants to thank St. Mary's Stephen Ministry and especially Mrs. Phyllis Yerace for the dedicated support during Rita's final days in life. Many thanks go also to Regency Hospice, its nurses and aides, as well as to so many friends who either stayed with Rita to comfort her or who brought nourishments to the home. A Requiem Mass will be co-celebrated by Father Gregory Wilson, Father James LeBlanc, and Father Jeffrey Kirby, at 10 am, Friday, February 12, 2016 at the Old Saint Mary Help of Christian Catholic Church, burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, under the care of GEORGE FUNERAL HOME. There will be a wake at the funeral home on Thursday, February 11, 2016, from 6-8 pm. Memorial donations may be made to GRU Cancer Center, 1411 Laney Walker Blvd., Augusta, Georgia, 30912. The family will receive friends after the burial at the Monsignor George Lewis Smith Knights of Columbus Hall at 1003 Spaulding Drive in Aiken.