Ritzert

Mary N. “Nim” Ritzert, 87, of East Danville Road, Chicora, went home to heaven at 5 p.m. Monday at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler surrounded by her loving family.

Mary was born in Summit Township on March 3, 1926. She was the daughter of Norman P. and Agnes Moniot Oesterling.

Mary was a homemaker; she enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking and baking. She had a wonderful sense of humor and always enjoyed a good joke. She was a longtime member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church at North Oakland, where she taught CCD classes for many years and belonged to the Christian Mothers and the Altar Society. Mrs. Ritzert served on the election board in Donegal Township for more than 25 years.

Mary was married on Jan. 30, 1947, to Herbert R. Ritzert. He preceded her in death on Oct. 13, 2007.

She is survived by four daughters, Joan M. Spaulding and her husband, Charles, of Mars, Judith Rathfon and her husband, Dr. James, of Butler, Rosemary McGrady and her husband, William Jr., and Elaine Burns and her husband, John, all of Chicora; five sons, David H. “Pete” Ritzert and his wife, Lynn, of Emlenton, Gary R. Ritzert and his wife, Linda, of Chicora, Raymond B. Ritzert and his wife, Carol, of Depoe Bay, Ore., Norman U. Ritzert of Chicora and Patrick J. Ritzert and his wife, Denise, of Chicora; one daughter-in-law, Barbara J. Ritzert of Dixon, Mo.; 21 grandchildren, Kevin, Christopher and Nathan Young, Eric, Matthew and Nicholas Ritzert, Stephanie Roskowski, Jennifer McCarren, Angela Vizzini, Renae Wyant, Jeremy and Ashley Ritzert, Megan Cawley, Crystal McAllister, Elizabeth and Jessica McGrady, Jonathan and Alaina Burns, and Ethan, Brenna and Caroline Ritzert; two stepgrandchildren, Tom and Shawn Hudson; 24 great-grandchildren, Kaden, Kaleb, Zane, Hope, Hudson and Jordyn Young, Addison, Kendell and Taylor Ritzert, Jacob and Sophie Roskowski, Jackson and Madelyn McCarren, Stella Vizini, Garret, Libby, Colson and Carter Ritzert, Bailey and Tucker Wyant, Ali Ritzert, Grace Cawley, and Weston and Nathaniel McAllister; two sisters, Dorothy Clouse of Chicora and Beverly Snyder of Butler; as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters- in-law.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Ritzert was preceded in death by one son, 1st Sgt. Donald K. Ritzert, who died July 6, 2013; one grandson, Benjamin N. Ritzert, who died Sept. 20, 2009; one great-grandson, Kolton H. Young, who died April 19, 2010; one sister, Alice Schroth; four brothers, Norman Jr., Kenneth P., Albert J. and Paul Oesterling; as well as a number of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

RITZERT — Friends of Mary N. “Nim” Ritzert, who died Monday, July 8, 2013, will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Road, Chicora, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.

A celebration of life Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in North Oakland with the Rev. Joseph Pudichery, church pastor, and the Rev. William J. Ritzert, a retired priest and Mrs. Ritzert’s brother-in-law, concelebrating.

Interment will be in Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. Ritzert’s name may be made to VNA Inpatient Hospice, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001 or to Medi Home Hospice, 3162 Kipp Ave., Lower Burrell, PA 15068.

To send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.