Rita Fritzen Ryan R.N.

Rita Fritzen Ryan, RN, age 95 and a resident of Scranton, died Wednesday, May 22nd, in the VNA Hospice Inpatient Unit of Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, after a brief illness. Born November 25, 1917, in Scranton, Rita was the second daughter of the late Joseph T. and Clara Kloss Fritzen. She was a graduate of Scranton Central High School and the Hahnemann Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1938. Rita worked at various hospitals during her career including two years in Lincoln, Nebraska, during WWII; West Side Hospital in Scranton; and then CMC. She retired from nursing at CMC in 1984 as Head Nurse of the Post Partum Department. Rita was a real Florence Nightingale nurse and her patients were her utmost concern. Rita was always proud of her long nursing career. Her intuitive wisdom was shared with her family and co-workers. She was a faithful member of Divine Mercy Church Parish. Rita is survived by her daughters, Mary Ryan Miller and husband Gordon Miller of La Plume, Patricia Ryan Pierotti and husband Ronald Pierotti of Scranton, and Janet Ryan Chaffee of Nantucket, Massachusetts; her nine grandchildren, Brenda James Ditchey, her husband Steve, and their children, Lauren and Adam, all of Springville, New York, Lisa James Ditchey, her husband Jim, and their children, Ashley, Courtney and Morgan, all of Nicholson, Karen James Shaw, her husband Dave, and their children, Joe, Emma and Ben, all of Factoryville, Michael Pierotti and his daughter, Sophia, both of Scranton, Kristin Pierotti Kellogg, her husband Mike, and their children, Nicholas and Nathan, all of Greentown, Melissa Pierotti Wasko, her husband Joe, and their children, Abby, Delaney, Joey and Evan, all of Scott Twp., Ryan Evans, his wife Jessica, and their daughter, Stella, all of Standish, Maine, Erik Evans of Nantucket, MA., and Robbie Evans and fiance Kara, both of Newburgh, New York; her sister, Hilda Fritzen Kingsley of Old Forge; nieces, Margie Kingsley Orr (Rita's Godchild), Susie Kingsley Christensen and Barbara Fritzen Stephenson; nephews, Tom Kingsley, Bobby Kingsley and Jeff Fritzen; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. Rita was preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Fritzen McClain; her brothers, Carl Fritzen and Gerard Fritzen; brothers-in-law, Leonard McLain and Robert Kingsley; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Fritzen; and her former husband, Joseph J. Ryan. The family would like to express their most sincere gratitude to Dr. Eric Smith and the staff of the 7th floor VNA Hospice Unit at Geisinger CMC. Their compassion and love for Rita went above and beyond and Rita's family will be forever grateful. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Wednesday at 10:00AM in the Church of St. Joseph at Divine Mercy Parish, 312 Davis Street in Scranton, to be celebrated by Rev. Francis L. Pauselli, Pastor. All attending the funeral are asked to go drectly to the church. Entombment will follow in Cathedral Cemetery. Relatives and friends may pay their respects on Tuesday between 5-8:00PM at the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 517 North Main Street in Old Forge. Memorial contributions may be made in Rita's name to Divine Mercy Church, 312 Davis Street in Scranton, 18505; VNA Hospice Home Health, 301 Delaware Avenue in Olyphant, 18447; St. Joseph's Center, 2010 Adams Avenue in Scranton, 18509; or to the donor's favorite charity.