Jill N. Ritz, 80
November 12, 1944 — November 16, 2024
ARCADIA — Jill N. Ritz, 80, of rural Arcadia, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
Celebration of Life will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Arcadia Methodist Church. Rolen Sell will officiate. Interment will be in Lee Park Cemetery west of Arcadia.
Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Arcadia Fire & Rescue Department, Arcadia Public School, or the 4-H Council. Ord Memorial Chapel is assisting with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.ordmemorialchapel.com
Jill Naville was born November 12, 1944, in Ross, California, to Darwin Boone "DB" and Mary Margaret (Bettinger) Dyer. Her father passed away due to a car accident and her mother married Walter Jay Steven, whom she knew as Dad.
Jill attended elementary school at Kearney Public School, followed by Shelton Middle School and High School and graduated from Brownell Talbot High School. She pursued a degree in elementary education at Kearney State College and obtained a master's degree to become a Reading Specialist.
During college is when Jill met the man of her dreams, Lynn E. Ritz. The couple was united in marriage on August 7, 1966, at Shelton, Nebraska. To this union four daughters were born, Stephanie, Stacie, Michelle and Mandy. The family made their home west of Arcadia.
Jill was a reading specialist for Ord Public Schools before having her family, later in life she returned to substitute teaching.
As a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and 48-year cancer survivor, Jill filled many other roles as a volunteer, party planner, hostess and 4-H sewing leader. She was an avid marble collector, and enjoyed tap dancing, baton twirling, sudoku, dressing up in costume and choreographing prom skits.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 58 years, Lynn; four daughters and sons-in-law, Stephanie and Terry Holcomb, Stacie and Jeff McMeen, Michelle and Tracy Ochsner and Mandy and Bobby Hurlburt; 11 grandchildren, Trenton, Trevor and Treyton Holcomb, Mason and Morgan McMeen, Jarrett, Jenna and Jaden Ochsner and Jillian, Carter and Cody Hurlburt; one great-granddaughter, Tessa Holcomb; and one brother, Jack Dyer.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather; parents-in-law, Harry and Lilly Ritz; and infant twins.
