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Rittinger had been a waitress, bartender, and hostess at Aloy’s and Christos, two restaurants in Poughkeepsie.
She was a member of Holy Trinity Church in Poughkeepsie and a volunteer at St. Francis Hospital, working in its gift shop. She also loved to cook, sew, do needlework, and garden.
Rittinger is the daughter of the late Charles J. and Maude (Bell) Smith.
She was the widow of the late Harold T. Ward and of the late Charles Rittinger.
Rittinger was also predeceased by three sisters, Charlotte Hessinger, Dorothy Ofca, and Maude Sculco; and her twin brother, Charles.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen (Ronald) Giordano of Poughkeepsie; her son, Brian (Mary) Ward of Hyde Park; three grandsons, Thomas and Steven Wetterhan, and Ian Ward; three step-granddaughters, Andrea Espinosa, Karen Rappleyea and Katherine Mainero; eight great-grandchildren; and a sister, Clare Depew of Fort Meyers, Fla.
Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
Visitation took place Wednesday, March 8, at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, March 9, at Holy Trinity Church, 775 Main St., Poughkeepsie.
Burial will be at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, 342 South Ave., Poughkeepsie.
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