Rita Marker

The Latest

From left to right: Daniel Marker, Susan Young, Bishop Chad W. Zielinski of New Ulm, Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Judy Haag, and Valerie Washington.

Longtime anti-euthanasia activists awarded USCCB’s ‘People of Life’ award posthumously

Aug 14, 2025

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Longtime anti-euthanasia activists Rita and Mike Marker were honored Aug. 11 at the 2025 “People of Life” awards by the... Read more

Rita Marker, a longtime advocate against assisted suicide, died Oct. 30, 2024, at the age of 83. She was the founder, with her husband, Mike, of the International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force, later renamed the Patients Rights Council, where Rita served as the executive director until early 2024.

Rita Marker, prolific anti-euthanasia advocate, dies at 83

Nov 5, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Marker, a mother of seven, was appointed with her husband of six decades, Mike, to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council on... Read more