Gertrude Ann Pittinger

PITTINGER, Gertrude Ann Age 98, most recently of Farragut, TN, formerly of Nashville, TN, died Saturday, August 15, 2009. Born to Anthony and Veronica (Bechtel) Cramer in North Auburn, Ohio, Gertrude's life reflected her loving devotion to faith, family and service. Gertrude received her RN, Public Health Certificate and BS from Case Western Reserve and pursued a graduate degree at Western Reserve University and Columbia University. In New York, Gertrude worked as a Public Health Nurse in Harlem. She also served as a Head Nurse of University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio; Public Health Nurse, Crawford County, Ohio; Instructor and staff nurse for the National Red Cross for Massachusetts during World War II, where she organized Nurse Aide and Home Nursing programs, was responsible for Nurse Recruitment for the Armed Forces, and administered 13 Public Health Nursing Agencies; Instructor, Field Training Center for Public Health Nurses, Western Reserve University; Director of Nursing Services, Cincinnati and Hamilton County Chapter of the American National Red Cross; and Instructor, Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Iowa City, Iowa. It was while Gertrude was living in Cincinnati that she met her husband of 41 years, Charles Bernard Pittinger, MD, who passed away in 1990. Gertrude was very active in the Catholic Women's Council in Iowa City and then in St. Henry Parish in Nashville, TN. Gertrude exhibited her deep faith and employed her considerable leadership talents as Deanery President and twice Diocesan President of the Nashville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; served as the National Council of Catholic Women Province of Louisville Director; was on the local Board and the First Vice President for Tennessee of Church Women United; chair of various commi ttees for the Diocesan Council of the Laity; on the Board of the Tennessee Association of Churches; a bishop's delegate on the Roman Catholic/Southern Baptist Dialogue Council; a representative on the National Advisory Council of the National Council of Catholic Bishops and the U.S. Catholic Conference; and Vice President of the Tennessee Association of Churches. Gertrude received many honors and awards for her dedication to the Catholic Church, including the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award, from Pope Paul VI; the Thomas More Award from the National Council of Catholic Laity; and was inducted as a member of Catholic Who's Who. Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sisters, Dorothy Burger and Adele Darrah. She is survived by her children, Suzanne Erpenbach and husband Jerry of Knoxville, TN; Charles A. Pittinger and wife Adelia of Cincinnati, OH; and Catherine Helms and husband Mac of Chattanooga, TN; eight grandchildren, Jonathan, Michael and David Erpenbach; Kevin and Matt Pittinger; and Sarah Helms Ross, Chris and Andrew Helms. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Sister Regina Marie, Sister of the Holy Ghost. The family will receive friends from 5:30- 7:00 p.m. on Monday with a Rosary to follow at the Click Funeral Home, Farragut Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be at All Saints Catholic Church, Knoxville, TN at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Interment at Calvary Cemetery, Nashville, TN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: the Priest Retirement Fund, Diocese of Nashville, 2400 Twenty-first Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212 and to the National Council of Catholic Women, Leadership Training Development Program, 200 N. Glebe Road, Suite 703, Arlington, VA 22203. clickfuneralhome.com