Rita Kay Mailen

Rita Kay Mailen, age 76, formerly of Topeka, passed away on Sunday, February 21, 2021 at the John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, TX. 

She was born the daughter of Eugene Leo and Genevieve Magdalena (Prockish) Dekat on October 28, 1944 in Flush, KS. She grew up on the family farm in Flush and later moved to Topeka, where she attended Hayden High School, graduating in 1962. 

Rita was united in marriage to Edward Mailen on August 8, 1964 at Holy Name Catholic Church in Topeka. She worked as the Executive Administrative Assistant at Menninger Hospital in Topeka, KS for 30 years and later for the Speaker of the House in the Kansas Legislature for 8 years. 

Rita enjoyed being outside in the yard and gardening. She loved sports, played softball, volleyball and golf. Rita was a lifelong Kansas Jayhawks basketball fan. Hunting pheasants, quail and deer with her brothers, nephews, husband and children was her favorite pastime. Later in life, she loved cheering for her grandkids at their various sports games. Faith and Jesus was very important to Rita. She was very involved at her church, Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church in Topeka, where she spent hours planting flowers and pulling weeds. She did weekly adoration and was a Eucharistic Minister. She loved to cook, loved hosting dinners and family gatherings. She will be dearly missed. 

Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Edward Mailen; daughter, Cheryl Estes and her husband Jeff and their children, Jace, Jaelyn and Jayden Estes; daughter, Dana Landavazo and her husband James and their children, Nolan and Elaina Landavazo; siblings, Damian Dekat and his wife Rae Diane, Mary Ann Potter and her husband Robert. 

She is preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Dennis Eugene Dekat, Carrol Joseph Dekat, Elizabeth “Betty” Jean Ebert and Loran Dale Dekat. 

Rita will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Monday, March 1, 2021 from 2-8:00 P.M., with the family being present from 4-8:00 P.M. A parish rosary will be held at 7:00 P.M. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 10:00 A.M., at Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery-Topeka. 

Memorial contributions can be made to Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church in Topeka, Kansas. Contributions can be mailed or left to the funeral home.

To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit, www.brennanmathenafh.com. 

Arrangements entrusted to Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, KS 66603.