Richard J. Stephenitch, 81, of Mendota died Dec. 8, 2009, in Rockford Memorial Hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Holy Cross Church, Mendota, with the Rev. Fredi Gomez Torres officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Sublette. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Friday in Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota, with a 7:30 p.m. Scripture service. Mr. Stephenitch was born April 16, 1928, in Sublette to Leroy and Esther (Dinges) Stephenitch. He married Rosemary Shannon on Sept. 10, 1949, in Amboy. He attended Amboy and St. Bede high schools. He was a member of Holy Cross Church and a 50-year member of Elks Lodge 1212. He owned and operated an International Harvester dealership in Sublette and Mendota. In 1969, he and his brother owned and operated Ace Hardware in Mendota until his retirement in 1987. Survivors are four daughters, Kathi (Bob) Sheridan of Mendota, Peggy (Dave) Joerger of Springfield, Barb (Chris) Notz of Springfield and Patty (Ron) Contreras of Houston, Texas; three sons, John Stephenitch of Mendota, Jim Stephenitch of Mendota and Gene (Cindy) Stephenitch of Mendota; 13 grandchildren; six greatgrandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; 11 stepgreatgrandchildren; and a special friend, Helen Druen. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary in 1988 and one brother, Don. Memorials may be directed to Elks Lodge 1212.