Obituary: Lillian L. Ritter, UNICEF Volunteer for Nearly Three Decades

Obituary from Peterson-O’Donnell Funeral Home.

Lillian L. Ritter, of Brooksby Village, Peabody, MA, died peacefully, with family at her side, on Monday afternoon, October 6, 2014. She was the beloved wife of the late Paul Albert Ritter, with whom she had shared 54 years of marriage.

Born in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of Swiss immigrants Emil Tschan and Marily Egger. As a young girl she had to face the death of both her father and a younger sister, Trudi Tschan. Lillian was fortunate that her mother remarried, to Ernest Bleuer, a close friend of her late husband, who gave Lillian a complete family and happy childhood. Her step-father also provided the connection to the love of her life, Paul Albert Ritter, a young Swiss working at the Swiss Embassy in Washington DC.

Lillian and Paul were married September 6, 1947 and moved to the New York City area where Paul began a successful career as a commodities broker and coffee import agent. Settling in New Jersey, they raised a family of three children. Besides being a wonderful homemaker and good friend to those in her neighborhood and community, she was an active volunteer, including leading regional Christmas card sales for UNICEF for nearly three decades. Lillian enjoyed traveling with her husband, and visiting and keeping in touch with extended family in Switzerland. They also cherished their time with friends at their ski house in Plymouth, Vermont. After Paul retired, they moved from Madison, NJ, to Morris Township, NJ, and later to Danvers, MA to be closer to their children in the area. While living in Danvers, they were members of the North Shore Unitarian Universalist Church. Upon Paul’s passing in 2002, Lillian moved to Brooksby Village where she maintained an active life, volunteering in the library, editing and writing for the Brooksby newsletter, and continuing her interest and work with UNICEF.

In addition to her husband, Lillian was predeceased by a brother, Ernest Bleuer, and sister, Trudi Tschan. Surviving Lillian are her three children, Paul Ritter and his wife Diane, Susan Young and her husband Christopher and John Ritter and his wife Jane, her seven grandchildren: Paul Christian Ritter and wife Nicole, Karin Ward and husband Scott, Lauren Ritter; Scott Ritter and wife, Emilee, Lisa Ritter, Sarah Young and Erik Young and two great-grandchildren: Emma Ritter and Hunter Ward. Lillian also leaves nieces Kathy Dempsey and Virginia Carraher (and husband Michael and son Donald Abbott, III) and extended, much-loved family in Switzerland. She leaves a legacy to them and to all whose lives she touched, of concern for and caring and unselfish dedication to those she knew and to all mankind.

ARRANGEMENTS: A Memorial Service celebrating Lillian’s life will be held on November 15, 2014 at 10 A.M. in the Chapel at Brooksby Village, Brooksby Village Drive, Peabody, MA. Memorial donations in Lillian’s memory may be made to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038 or to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite 8102, Danvers, MA 01923. Assisting the family with the arrangements is the Peterson-O’Donnell Funeral Home, 167 Maple St., (Rte 62), Danvers. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com