Gladys Carolyn Biele Reitz

"A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by family members on Saturday, January 19, 2019, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, LA, for Gladys Carolyn Biele Reitz, who passed away Sunday, January 13, 2019, at her home. A private burial will follow at Resthaven. Mrs. Reitz was born January 31, 1923, in Cincinnati, OH, to the late Charles Frank Biele and Gladys Ponton Biele Emmerling. Her husband, Howard Leslie Reitz, and her only sibling, her twin brother Robert Biele, predeceased her. She is survived by her five children, Carolyn R. Bruder (Harry), Catherine R. Stephens (Ross), Michael H. Reitz (Fay), Christine R. Powers, and Cynthia R. Strohmeyer (Jon); twelve grandchildren, Jonathan Stephens (Claire Ellen), Claire Stephens Engquist (Ryan), Leslie Stephens, Miles Bruder (Elizabeth), Michael Reitz, J.T. Robinson, Brock Robinson, Jimmy Powers (Allison), Jeremy Powers (Stephanie), Savannah Strohmeyer, Hunter Strohmeyer, and Caroline Strohmeyer; as well as twelve great grandchildren. One of her proudest accomplishments, Mrs. Reitz served her country as a member of the first class of women in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II. It was in the Marine Corps that Mrs. Reitz met her husband of seventy-one years.  In 1952 the Reitz family relocated to Baton Rouge, where Mrs. Reitz dedicated her life to supporting her husband in his professional life and nurturing her five children into adulthood.  The family would like to thank Deborah Bordelon and Glenda Dawson for their devoted care and companionship during Mrs. Reitz's final months. Mrs. Reitz's grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family requests that those wishing to honor Mrs. Reitz's memory do so through a donation to their preferred charity. Rabenhorst Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.