Dorothy Ann (Zess) Ritz

Dorothy Ann Ritz, 91, of Ellicott City, Maryland passed away peacefully on Monday, October 26, 2015 in Elternhaus Assisted Living in Dayton, Maryland.

She was born in Washington Pennsylvania to the late Anna Vavreck Zess and Stephen Zess.

In her early years she attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School.  After graduating top in her class she had numerous Art Scholarships and moved to Washington DC .While in DC she worked on Capitol Hill for Senator Estes Kefauver and also worked for the President of Georgetown University.  She met her husband Jack in Washington DC where they both were attending George Washington College.  They later married and moved back to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania where she worked for The Rust Engineering Company while her husband attended the University of Pittsburgh.  While in Pittsburgh her daughter Dorothy was born .Following her birth the family moved to Allentown Pennsylvania where her daughter Jacqueline was born. Her family settled down in Hagerstown Maryland where she worked for the City of Hagerstown for 28 years in the Human Resource Department.  Upon retiring she returned to her much loved art and painted in oil breathtaking pictures.  She later moved to Ellicott City Maryland to be with her daughters.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Jack. She is survived by her loving daughters Dorothy A. Ritz Peterson and Jacqueline L. Ritz both of Ellicott City Maryland. Her sisters Evelyn and husband Frank Ebitz of Charlotte North  Carolina, Mary Frances Dennis of Seminole Florida ,and Barbara and husband Jerry Dearolph of Washington Pennsylvania and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are welcome from 10-11:30 AM on Monday, November 2, 2015 in Salandra Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., Joseph P. Salandra owner/supervisor, Lin Webb funeral director, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg 724-745-8120 where departing prayers will begin at 11:30 AM on Monday.  A Mass of Christian burial will immediately follow at 12 Noon on Monday in St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 317 West Pike Street, Canonsburg.  Interment will follow in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, McMurray.