Sister Ritamary Pyzick

Sister Ritamary Pyzick died
at Rosary Care Center in Syl-
vania, Ohio on February 17,
2025. The daughter of John
and Mary Pyzick came to
Sylvania, Ohio from St. Ca-
simir Parish in Wells, Min-
nesota 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 profes-
sional 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 Rita-
mary taught for 28 years in
elementary schools in Syl-
vania and Cincinnati, Ohio;
St. Paul and Minneapolis,
Minnesota; and Detroit and
Garden City, Michigan. After
teaching she engaged in Pas-
toral Ministry for 24 years at
St. Raphael’s Parish in Gar-
den 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 con-
vent 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 as-
sisted living facility) and a
few years later she moved to
Rosary Care Center where
she continued her minis-
try of prayer. Her gracious
manner, ready smile, and
tearful gratitude will be re-
membered 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 jour-
ney with me, always there to
guide, bless, direct and pro-
tect 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 fol-
low your call.” Thank you,
Sister Ritamary for answer-
ing the call. Go in peace!
Sister Ritamary is pre-
ceded 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 grand-
child; 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 p.m. in Our
Lady Queen of Peace Cha-
pel in Sylvania. The Funeral
Liturgy will take place on
Friday, February 21 at 10:30
a.m. in the Chapel and will
be livestreamed at: https://
video.ibm.com/channel/Rv-
dadQRjbGk.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Sisters
of St. Francis, Sylvania,
Ohio. Arrangements by the
Thomas I. Wisniewski Fu-
neral Home

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