Mary Ethel
(Wilkinson) Ritz
Mary Ethel (Wilkinson) Ritz, age 84, of Lemont Furnace, Pa., passed away surrounded by her loving family on… (Wilkinson) Ritz
Mary Ethel (Wilkinson) Ritz, age 84, of Lemont Furnace, Pa., passed away surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, in Uniontown Hospital. She joins her beloved husband Joseph R. Ritz, Sr. who recently passed away on May 1, 2008. They would have celebrated 62 years of marriage on May 18, 2008.
She was born on August 17, 1923 in Chase City, Virginia, a daughter of the late Richard Franklin Wilkinson and Mary Ethel (Nemeth) Wilkinson.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Franklin Wilkinson, Jr., and a sister, Rose Almond Wilkinson Bracksma.
Mary Ethel began her career as a telephone operator, and later became a supervisor, for Bell Telephone Company in Virginia. After raising five children, she returned to work at the Fayette County Courthouse as a telephone operator for several years; and then as a telephone operator for Gallatin National Bank where she faithfully worked for more than thirty years, until her retirement.
She was a member of Saint Therese Roman Catholic Church for over 60 years, and St. Therese Altar Society. She was a wonderful loving wife and mother.
Left to cherish her memory are five children: JoAnn M. Ritz, Rose Marie Tobak and husband, Michael J. Tobak, Jr., Janet E. Ritz, Nicholas J. Ritz, and Joseph R. Ritz, Jr. and wife, Susan Fike Ritz; 5 grandchildren: Michael J. Tobak, III., Jeffrey A. Tobak, Joseph J. Ritz, III., Jeremy A. Ritz Colbert, and Augusta Leigh Ritz Hudson; 8 great-grandchildren; four brothers and a sister: Dorothy Wilkinson Harlow, Joseph Nemeth Wilkinson, Edward Thomas Wilkinson, John Calton Wilkinson, Nancy Ann Wilkinson Frame; and many nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received in the STEPHEN R. HAKY FUNERAL HOME, INC., 603 North Gallatin Avenue Extension, Uniontown, Pa., on Sunday, May 11, 2008, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and Monday, May 12, 2008, until 9:00 a.m. when Prayers of Transfer will be said.
A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 9:30 a.m. in Saint Therese Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Father Kenneth G. Zaccagnini as Celebrant.
Entombment will be held at Sylvan Heights Cemetery Chapel of Memories Mausoleum.
Memorial contributions may be made to Father Clark, Church of the Madonna, Main St., Cardale, PA 15420; or to the American Diabetes Association.
Your personal tributes and memories are welcomed and encouraged at www.haky funeralhome.com.