Lucille B. Ritzman

Lucille B. Ritzman, a longtime Port Washington resident and a former nurses aide at St. Alphonsus Hospital, died March 14 at Luther Manor at River Oaks in Mequon. She was 96. Having lived long enough to become a great-grandmother many times over, Lucille was affectionately known as "G.G." in her later years. Lucille (nee Roidt) was raised on the family homestead in Stangelville. She attended Kewaunee High School for two years. At age 16, she went to work in Milwaukee, where she met her future husband, the late Clarence Ritzman. They built a home together in Port Washington and raised six children. As a mother, Lucille was remembered for her homemade chocolate-chip cookies and stollen. She was widowed at age 47. Lucille worked, until age 70, as a nurses aide both at the former St. Alphonsus Hospital in Port Washington and at the former St. Marys Hospital in Milwaukee. At St. Marys, she worked on the heart floor when open-heart surgery was new. In retirement, Lucille enjoyed taking walks, working crossword puzzles and doing her "bending and stretching," remaining remarkably strong and agile even into her eighties. Maybe the pots and pots of coffee she always drank were her secret. When her mind began to fail in her nineties, Lucille could still recall many old stories and sometimes would break into song with traditional tunes such as "You Are My Sunshine." Lucilles passing was sacred and peaceful.in her bed, surrounded by family members and staff from River Oaks and Vitas hospice services. She couldnt speak during her final hours, but she managed to open one eye a moment or two before her last breath, as if to take a peek at all of us one more time. Special thanks to the staff of River Oaks, who cared for Lucille so lovingly during her 3-1/2 years there. Thanks, too, to the Vitas hospice staff for their care during Lucilles final days. Lucille was the loving mother of Barbara (Jim) Kertscher of Cedarburg, Bonnie (Tom) Bridenhagen of Manitowoc, Larry (Adele) of Brookfield, Richard (Chris) of Racine and the late Kay (Richard) Popp and the late Clarice (Bill) Popp. Another daughter, Christine, was stillborn. She is also survived by 23 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. Funeral Mass Saturday, April 12, at 10 a.m. St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church North, 1375 Covered Bridge Road, Cedarburg. Visitation at church from 9 a.m. until time of service. Interment at St. Marys Cemetery, Port Washington. Memorials of your choice or to: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave. Suite 7000, El Segundo CA 90245; www.pancan.org. Memorials: Memorials of your choice or to: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave. Suite 7000, El Segundo CA 90245; www.pancan.org. Cemetery: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery Port Washington, WI (map/driving directions) Visitation: 9AM to 10AM at St. Francis Borgia North Catholic Church 1375 Covered Bridge Rd. Cedarburg, WI 53012 on April 12, 2008 (map/driving directions) Service: 10AM at St. Francis Borgia North Catholic Church 1375 Covered Bridge Rd. Cedarburg, WI 53012 on April 12, 2008 (map/driving directions)