Obituary: Phyliss Jane Ritz

Phyliss Jane (Hutchisson) Ritz of Lynnfield MA passed away suddenly on August 13, 2012 at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston; she was 89. She was born on November 20, 1922 in Toledo, Ohio. Her parents were Carroll Frank and Meldine Hutchisson; her beloved younger brother Jack Donald passed away in 2003.

Phyliss grew up in Toledo, graduated from Libbey High School and attended the University of Toledo with a full scholarship in English Literature. She married the love of her life, Karl Frank Ritz, in 1944, and they were happily married for almost 67 years. Karl passed away 18 months ago, and Phyliss said, "he is part of me, part of everything I do, I will love him always."

Phyliss leaves behind four loving children: Connie Stern and husband Michael from Reisterstown, MD; Nancy Ritz of Lynnfield; Craig Ritz and wife Kris from Warner NH; and Barbara Ritz of Aurora, Colorado. She has nine loving grandchildren: Joshua (and Maryann), Justin (and Celeste), Jonathan Ritz; David, Craig, and Richard (and Caiyan) Moreton; and Shoshana, Daniel, and Judith Stern. In addition, there are seven great-grandchildren: Jadon, Jarod, Joshua, Jersey Phyllis, Tyler, Ashton, and Darren.

In her youth, Phyliss loved dancing, listening to music of the '40s, sewing, cooking, working as a bank teller, taking her first plane ride with Karl as pilot, reading, volunteering as Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout leader, participating in Flower Workshop and Lynnfield Couples Club. In later life, she loved long walks with Karl, long conversations with Karl, and being with family and friends. She will be greatly missed.

Funeral services were private. Burial was at Puritan Lawn in Peabody. Phyliss requested that in lieu of flowers, family and friends do acts of loving kindness in her memory.