Rita Ritz Prior

BOARDMAN - Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel, for Rita Ritz Prior, 76, who died Monday afternoon at Greenbrior Nursing Home.

Rita was born July 7, 1941, in Youngstown, the daughter of John and Cecila (Mauser) Ritz.

She was a 1959 graduate of East High School and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Youngstown State University. While in college, she was a member of Phi Mu Sorority.

Rita was employed by St. Elizabeth Hospital as a medical technologist, where she spent 45 years working in the laboratory. She was the supervisor of the blood bank for many of those years.

She was a member of the American Association of Blood Banks, American Medical Technologists, and the Zodiac Bowling League. She was also a mentor for Austintown Reads.

Rita relaxed by cross stitching, knitting, and reading. She enjoyed traveling, especially to the beach, and any casino along the way.

She leaves behind a son, Brian of New Middletown; two brothers, George Ritz of Canfield and Leonard (Brenda) Ritz of Canfield; sister Kathleen Ritz Kane of Poland; nieces Kellie (Niel) Friery of Akron and Rachel Ritz of Painsville; and great-niece and great-nephew Madelyn and Noah Friery.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents; brother John J. Ritz Jr.; a niece, Jessica Ritz; and sister-in-law Judy Ritz.

Family and friends may call Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

The family would like to thank the staff at Greenbriar an Hospice of the Valley for all their interest and care given to Rita. A special thanks for nurse Kerry, who was an angel that cared a lot about Rita.

Memorial tributes may take the form of donations Hospice of the Valley or a charity of the donors choice.

Visit www.higgins-reardon.com to send condolences to the family.