Environmental Justice
February 3, 2025Fr. Metzger’s Response
February 25, 2025
By Sister Mary Thill, OSF
Sister Ritamary Pyzick died at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio on February 17, 2025. The daughter of John and Mary Pyzick came to Sylvania, Ohio from St. Casimir Parish in Wells, Minnesota in 1958 to become a Sister of St. Francis. She made her First Profession of Vows in 1961 and her Final Vows in 1966. Her professional background includes a B.A. degree from Mary Manse College, Toledo, Ohio, and a M. A. degree from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Over her almost 64 years in religious life, Sister Ritamary taught for 28 years in elementary schools in Sylvania and Cincinnati, Ohio; St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Detroit and Garden City, Michigan. After teaching she engaged in Pastoral Ministry for 24 years at St. Raphael’s Parish in Garden City, Michigan where she enjoyed working with many wonderful, enjoyable and loyal friends. Her work in Bereavement Ministry was especially important to her as she assisted grieving widows and families at the funeral home and continued to support them through their individual grieving process.
Sister’s final ministry brought her back to the convent in Sylvania where she visited with the elder Sisters and enjoyed several years assisting wherever she was needed at Sophia Center, the counseling center near the campus. As she began to need assistance herself, Sister Ritamary lived at Our Lady of Grace (an assisted living facility) and a few years later she moved to Rosary Care Center where she continued her ministry of prayer. Her gracious manner, ready smile, and tearful gratitude will be remembered by her Sisters in community, her caregivers at Rosary Care Center, her family and special friends.
As she wrote during her 50th Jubilee Year, “I thank God for traveling this journey with me, always there to guide, bless, direct and protect me, and I know that He will always be there for me as I journey into the future as a Sylvania Franciscan. Thank you, Lord, for calling me and for gracing me to follow your call.” Thank you, Sister Ritamary for answering the call. Go in peace!
Sister Ritamary is preceded in death by sister, Elaine Reitter and niece, Elizabeth Reitter. Survived by Jerry Reitter, brother-in-law, nephew Mark (Ruth) Reitter and their children and grandchildren, nephew David (Teresa) Reitter and their children and grandchild, first cousin Marlene Staloch and first cousin’s wife, Barbara Staloch.
The Welcome Service for Sister Ritamary will be Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel in Sylvania. The Funeral Liturgy will take place on Friday, February 21 at 10:30 AM in the Chapel and will be livestreamed at: https://video.ibm.com/channel/RvdadQRjbGk.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, Ohio. Arrangements by the Thomas I. Wisniewski Funeral Home, Toledo, Ohio.
She will always be remembered for the bell on her desk, the love in her heart and the faith in her soul. I didn’t appreciate her as a student, probably because I helped drive her to needing a bell on her desk that she would liberally shake at me as I suffered from “verbal diarrhea”. However, I appreciate her today. I hope her Vikings win in heaven and her smile is eternal.
You werent the only one who made her need that bell Mike, nor the only one with a mouth needing soap! I remember her well, amazing teacher and person. I too am sorry for the respect I didn’t always show when I was young, Sweet dreams and rest in peace.