Jacqueline Maria Ritter

Jacqueline (Jackie) Ritter, 90, went home peacefully to be with the Lord on August 30th in New Braunfels, TX. Jackie was born in Brooklyn, NY to Jack and Emma Caristi on July 18, 1935. She graduated from Fort Hamilton HS and was a ballerina for many years. She married John Ritter at St. Anselm Catholic Church in Brooklyn, NY on October 8, 1955.

Jackie worked as an executive secretary for Coastal Oil and Gas Corporation in Corpus Christi for 20 years. She also worked in Human Resources for Driscoll Children’s Hospital and was instrumental in fundraising efforts with the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. She worked with Jack Rice Turner Architects as an executive assistant for several years then moved to San Antonio to be closer to family. Jackie was blessed to work at St. Mark The Evangelist Church as the Church Administrative Secretary under Monsignor Kevin Ryan for over 20 years. Jackie took pride in writing the church bulletins and keeping the baptismal records. She volunteered her time and talents with the Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Altar Society, Women’s Guild, Meals on Wheels and other church events where her service was needed. She loved the Arts and was a volunteer at the Majestic Theater and with Christian Youth Theater in New Braunfels. She was able to serve behind the scenes and see many of the plays she loved. Jackie was also very creative and loved to paint, draw, knit, sew, crochet and do many other arts and crafts. She loved Bingo, singing, dancing and cracking jokes.

She is preceded in death by her husband, John Ritter; her mother, Emma Caristi; her father, Jack Caristi; her brother Caeser Caristi; and her sister, Christie (Emmy) Pisciotta. She is survived by her daughters and family: Victoria (Vernon) Hill, Stephanie (Greg) Isaacs and Lisa Byles. Her beloved grandchildren are Jennifer Tanner, Raquel Borders, John Hill, Christopher Isaacs, Nicole Issacs, Madison Hetterly, Joshua Byles and Leslie Byles along with her 6 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 am at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church on September 23rd. Funeral Mass Services will be held at 11:00 am with Fr. Eric Ritter. A reception will follow at the church from 12-1:30 pm. Burial will be held at Ft. Sam Houston at 2:00pm. Arrangements are by Sunset Memorial Park & Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Tony Ritter, Stephen Ritter, Joshua Byles, Christopher Isaacs, John Hill and Jasen Lopez.

The family of Jacqueline Ritter extend a special thank you to the caring and loving visiting angels: Terri Washburn, Candy Barrera, Val Mas, Patty Ritter, Heart To Heart Hospice and also to her beloved nephews, Anthony, Steven, and Father Eric Ritter for providing her police escorts to Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.