Vincent Patrick "Vince" Ritzert, 97, a lifelong Chicora resident and a decorated World War II veteran, went home to be with the Lord while in the company of his loving family on Tuesday evening, July 2, 2024, at Magnolia Place in Saxonburg.
Vincent was born in Chicora on July 4, 1926, to the late Vincent C. and Sarah V. Norris Ritzert.
He attended school in Chicora and later earned a GED. Vince was a United States Navy veteran having served with the 5th & 29th Construction Battalion in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. He earned numerous awards and citations. He was a life member of the former Chicora VFW Post as well as the American Legion Post 642, in Chicora. In his early years, Vince was a member of the Chicora Fire Department.
Vince was a devout Roman Catholic and a lifelong member of Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, in Chicora. He served the church as a council member, Eucharistic Minister, and usher. He was a member of the Altar Rosary Society and the Holy Name Society. Vince enjoyed making rosaries for first communion classes and as gifts for family and friends.
From 1948 to 1956, Vince was a partner with his father at "Ritzert Bros." in Chicora. He was later employed by Koppers Company in Petrolia and retired in 1991 from Neville Synthetic Organics in Oil City.
Vincent was preceded in death by his wife Genevieve Pearl Hutchison Ritzert, on December 1, 2023. The couple was married at Mater Dolorosa on June 15, 1950.
He is survived by a son, Dennis J. Ritzert and his wife Patricia, of Chicora; a daughter, Kathleen M. Ritzert (Kim Litton) of Cranberry Twp; a daughter-in-law, Elaine Ritzert, of Butler; two grandsons, Chase Ritzert and his wife, Shauna and Ryan Ritzert and his wife Chrissy, all of Chicora; his great-grandchildren, Alexis, Jake, Chaz, Chase, Laci, Cade, and Blaze; a great-great-grandson, Huxson; a sister-in-law, Jo Ann Ritzert, of East Brady as well as number of nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Vincent Daniel Ritzert on March 17, 2024; two brothers, Cornelius and Russell Ritzert, and four sisters, Betty Sedoris, Dora Dompka, Rose DeCorte, and Eileen Croft, as well as several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora-Fenelton Road, Chicora from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2024. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, July 8, 2024, from Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, 409 North Main Street, Chicora with the Rev. Matt McClain, pastor of St. Clare Parish, officiating.
Military honors will be accorded at the church following Mass by members of the Chicora and Brady's Bend American Legion posts. The interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in the village of North Oakland.
Memorial contributions in Vince's memory may be made to The Chicora Fire Department, PO Box F, Chicora, PA 16025.
For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.
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