Mrs. Joanne Ritter

Joanne Ritter, age 70, of Westminster, Maryland, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 26, 2024 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, following a long struggle against lung cancer, and went home to rest in Jesus' arms. She was born on May 14, 1954 in Baltimore, Maryland to the late Ralph and Ethel Martin, as the ninth of ten siblings. She graduated from Randallstown High School in 1972 and earned a certificate in keypunch from Western School of Technology. Over the years, she variously worked in data entry at Flynn & Emrich and Gates McDonald, as the cafeteria manager at Liberty Christian School, and for Provident, Sandy Spring, and Carroll Community Banks as a head teller and assistant branch manager. She is survived by Walter Ritter of Westminster, Maryland, her husband of 48 years; daughter Rebecca Ritter of Westminster, Maryland; daughter and son-in-law Megan and Randall Judt of Alexandria, Virginia; siblings James (Debbie) Martin of Arbutus, Maryland and Aimee Martin of Kent Island, Maryland; sister-in-law Elizabeth Parham of Frankford, Delaware; nephews Joey (Kennady) Fleming of Manchester, Maryland, Christopher (Heather) Martin of Columbia, Maryland, and David (Trisha) Parham of Whaleyville, Maryland, among other family members. Joanne is remembered for her love of traveling with her family, especially to the beach, and of all animals, especially the horses she raised as a girl and her beloved cats Ellie and Luna. She is also remembered for her talent for adding beauty to the world as a gardener, ceramicist, and crocheter, and for the delicious holiday treats she made each year to give away to friends and neighbors. Most of all, she is remembered for her deep love of her family, the motherly care with which she nurtured so many people, and her abiding faith in God’s love and goodness during her battle against cancer. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 4th from 2-5:30pm at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, 6416 Sykesville Road, Sykesville, Maryland, where a funeral service will be held at 11am on Monday, August 5th, followed by interment at Lakeview Memorial Park, Sykesville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins who treated Joanne over the past two years, or to her favorite charities, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Project. Her family also wishes to thank the extraordinary and compassionate doctors, nurses, and therapists of the Johns Hopkins Neurosciences Critical Care Unit who took such loving care of Joanne in her last weeks.

Mrs. Joanne Ritter

May 14, 1954 - July 26, 2024