Ritzert

Shirley Martha (Dupe) Ritzert, 77, of Lowellville, Ohio, passed peacefully early Tuesday morning at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born Feb. 8, 1932, in Chicora, a daughter of John and Gertrude Hickey Dupe.

Mrs. Ritzert was a homemaker, who enjoyed taking care of her family, always thinking of them before herself and putting their needs first. A caring wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Shirley will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

Some of her favorite things included bowling in her earlier years at Parkstown and the Bowl-A-Drome, cool days, listening to country music, reading and listening to mystery stories, going to Mountaineer and traveling. A few of her favorite moments were seeing Pope John Paul II, Joyce Meyers, meeting Bishop George Murray and seeing Daniel O'Donnell in concert this year.

Mrs. Ritzert was a member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Lowellville, and she enjoyed supporting and contributing to St. Jude and the Special Olympics.

Her husband of 35 years, Clarence J. Ritzert, who she married May 10, 1954, died July 7, 1989.

She leaves to cherish her memory six daughters, Catherine (Richard) Grizinski of Boardman, Ohio, Debra Ritzert of Canfield, Ohio, Eileen Malysa of Pickerington, Ohio, Rose (Thomas) Pitzulo of Poland, Ohio, Christine (John) Bielski of Youngstown, Ohio, and Sharon (Randall) Weems of Poland; a son, Alan (Janie) Ritzert of Blacklick, Ohio; five grandchildren, Jessica Grizinski, Marc Weems, Jeremy Pitzulo, David Weems and Matthew (Molly) Weems; two great-grandchildren, Hannah and Angelina Weems; numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; many nieces, nephews and cousins; a special cousin, Marie Margaret Gray of New Castle; and devoted friends, Louise Husak and her family, Martha Churan and Cheryl Mamula.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, James and Paul Dupe; a sister, Betty Ritzert; and a grandson, Joseph Ritzert.

<B>RITZER</B>T — Family and friends of Shirley Martha (Dupe) Ritzert, who died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, will be received from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the <B>Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home,</B> Lowellville. Services will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home and at 2 p.m. at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church.The family wishes to extend their warm thanks and appreciation to the health care providers at Maplecrest Nursing Home and St. Elizabeth Hospital. They would especially like to thank the Rev. G. David Weikart for visiting Shirley at her home.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Butler Memorial Hospital, 911 E. Brady St., Butler, PA 16001.Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.