Dorothy Jean Reitz, 93, of Hillsboro, died on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Taylor Springs.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 1, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Hillsboro. Funeral services will follow, beginning at 12 p.m. at the church with Dr. Ronald Rhodus and the Rev. Michael Plummer, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Hillsboro, co-officiating. Burial will be held at Sunnyside Cemetery in Sorento. Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro is assisting the family.
Mrs. Reitz was born on May 21, 1929, in Detroit, MI, to Max and Anna (Zora) Brandish. She married Edward L. Reitz on Aug. 10, 1946, in Panama, and he preceded her in death on July 26, 2010, after almost 64 years of marriage.
She was raised in Panama, where she attended Panama School. She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1946. She was an only child and had always wanted a big family. After marrying Ed, she got her wish, having four girls and two boys.
Mrs. Reitz worked, to help raise six kids, and spent 29 years at Hillsboro Glass Factory in Schram City before retiring. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Hillsboro, where she taught Sunday School. She was also on the kitchen committee, where she loved helping make the dinner rolls for church functions.
She was a tutor for the literacy program with CEFS and served as volunteer for Meals on Wheels. She loved to craft, sew, crochet, make quilts and cook. She belonged to several sewing and quilting clubs. She made quilts for all six of her children and baby blankets for all 17 of her grandchildren.
Mrs. Reitz was a wonderful grandma who loved to sew and cook for all of her family. She loved having all of her family around and always had a smile on her face. She also loved her three dogs, all named Fluffy.
During her lifetime, she resided in Panama, Sorento and Hillsboro.
Mrs. Reitz is survived by her six children, Jean (husband Don) Klotz of Edwardsville, Judy (husband Ron) Guthals of Louisville, KY, Janet (husband Ernie) White of Litchfield, Vicky (husband Dane) Murphy of Taylor Springs, Larry (wife Rhonda) Reitz of Litchfield and Mark Reitz of Hillsboro; 16 grandchildren, Ann (husband Craig) Kruckeberg, Julie (husband Richard) Strasen, Brad (wife Kathy) Klotz, Neil (wife Jaime) Guthals, Todd (wife Jessica) White, Dan White, Anthony (wife Sally) White, Crystal (husband Michael) Helfers, Tobey (husband Jeff) Elvers, Taran (husband Josh) McKey, Megan Murphy, Stephanie (husband Chad) Mears, Matthew (wife Tiffany) Reitz, Michael Reitz, Max Reitz and Mitch Reitz; 28 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Adam Guthals; and one great-granddaughter, Abbigale Klotz.
Memorials may be directed to Calvary Baptist Church Kitchen Remodel. Online condolences to the family may be left at www.basspattondeanfh.com.
