Priscilla "Kit" (Dobbs) Ritz

SAUGERTIES - Priscilla Alden "Kit" Ritz, 96, passed away Saturday, March 30, 2024 at the Bayberry Nursing Home, New Rochelle, NY.    A Full time Saugerties area resident since 1995, Kit was an active member of the Saugerties Reformed Church and the Garden Club of Saugerties.  Before 1995, She had been living in and spending time in the area on and off which she always had loved ever since her childhood, when her grandfather built a rustic cabin in Saugerties nestled in the woods, with views of her favorite “blue” mountains. Predeceased by her husband Richard, her son Robert Andrew “Andy” Ritz, and her two brothers, Donald Dobbs, and Randell Dobbs. Survivors include a son, William "Tobey" Ritz (Amanda Weiss) of New Rochelle, a sister in law, Glenn Dobbs of Lewisburg, PA, nieces Elizabeth Dobbs and Jennifer McLysaght, and nephew D. J. Dobbs. She also has seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

  Kit grew up and raised her two children in a loving family in the town of Larchmont, NY where she was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church (working there part time as a Nursery school teacher for several years). During this time Kit also worked for several companies including IBM and the New York Times, as an executive secretary. Her home was always surrounded by lovely gardens and she would often say, “I just love digging in the dirt.”

  Upon retirement, Kit later moved to and became an active member of the Saugerties community which she loved. She loved spending time with family and grandchildren, gardening, reading (and her book club), dogs, bluebirds, tennis, breakfasts at the Saugerties diner, swimming at the YMCA exercise classes, observing the beauty of nature, and just chatting on her porch with friends and neighbors.

  Kit will always be somewhat larger than life to her family and those who knew her well. Nothing written here will truly or fully capture her sense of humor, spirit, determination, and character. She once said she hoped when she got to heaven, St. Peter would greet her at the gates with a simple “Job well done.” And it’s certain that is how she was greeted. There is a quote from Mother Teresa that says “we draw the circle of our family too small.” Kit believed her family included not just relations, not only everyone in the town of Saugerties, but in fact the whole world. She always appreciated deeply the help she received as she aged and would want to thank everyone in the local Saugerties community who helped her when she needed something, who helped her stay independent in the house she loved for so long. She cared for everyone she knew deeply and would always focus on asking others how they were doing, taking a genuine interest in their lives and goings on, doing what she could to help others and brighten their day with a kind word.

   To honor her memory she would want everyone to begin by treating all others with caring, love, dignity and respect. To have flowers and gardens or trees planted in her memory. To stop and observe the beauty that surrounds us. To have us all helping and supporting each other in times of trouble and need. Donations can be made in her name to any charity or cause that helps people in difficult times.

Her service of Remembrance will be held in Saugerties at a later date TBD (probably in June) with interment in the Blue Mt. Cemetery, Saugerties.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Seamon-Wilsey Funeral Home, Inc. Cor. of John & Lafayette Sts., Saugerties.   Expressions of condolence may be shared with the family on Kit's Tribute Wall at SeamonWilseyFuneralHome.com

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