Elsie G. Reitz

Elsie was born in Sanger, California on May 23, 1913 to Fred Geringer and Elizabeth Frank. Her parents had both been born in the 1870's in the Volga River region of Russia. Fred emigrated to the United States through Liverpool, England on a vessel named Cedric and arrived in New York City in 1906. He had been widowed in Russia and emigrated with two children from that marriage, Elizabeth and Conrad.

Elsie's mother, Elizabeth Frank, had also been widowed in Russia with children. She emigrated through New York in October, 1903.

Elsie was the second child born to Fred and Elizabeth together. Her arrival was assisted, according to her birth certificate, by "mid-wife Mrs. Crum." She was baptized at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sanger and was a long time member of the Cross Church in Fresno.

Elsie passed away in Fresno, California on December 20, 2012, at the age of 99. As in life, she was peaceful and surrounded by family and friends.

Elsie was retired from J.C. Penney in 1973 after nearly forty years of service and was still attending monthly J.C. Penney retirees' luncheons. She was also active in the Twilight Haven Ladies Guild, where she had been a member for decades. Her family especially enjoyed the noodles Elsie would make every year with the Guild for Christmas. Elsie continued to have her bi-weekly manicures and her hair done weekly by her friend Betty who had been doing it for nearly 70 years until Betty retired.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Henry Reitz. After he passed in 2000, Elsie moved into an apartment at Twilight Haven where she continued to live independently until quite recently.

She was also preceded in death by her beloved daughter Marilyn Reitz; sister Bertha Weisbrod; niece Gloria Conrad; nephew Bob Weisbrod and great niece, Dana Schmidt.

Elsie is survived by her sister, Freda Schmidt; nephew Larry Schmidt; great nieces Sherri Conrad and her partner, Karen Brown, Karen Graves and Linda Rea; great nephews Ken Weisbro, Eric Schmidt and his wife, Amy, Evan Schmidt and his wife Alysia; numerous great-great nieces and nephews and three great-great-great nephews.

The family would like to thank the outstanding staff at Twilight Haven, and especially her caregiver, Rita, for the extraordinary love they gave to Auntie over the last two months.

Visitation will be held at Lisle Funeral Home, 1605 L St., Fresno, California on Thursday, January 3, 2013 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Funeral Services will be held at Lisle Funeral Home, 1605 L St., Fresno, California on Friday, January 4, 2013 at 11:00 am, Pastor Doug Boyd, officiating.

Burial will be held at Mountain View Cemetery, 1411 W. Belmont Ave., Fresno, California following services,

a reception will follow the burial at Twilight Haven's Memorial Hall. 1717 S. Winery Avenue, Fresno, Ca 93727.

Remembrances may be made to The Activity Fund, Twilight Haven, 1717 S. Winery Avenue, Fresno, Ca 93727.