Kristin Marie Ritter's Obituary
Kristin Marie Ritter, age 40, passed away after a courageous battle with breast cancer on September 6, 2020, surrounded by her family.
Born May 28, 1980 to her adoring parents Gina (Minkus) Drapala and the late Nicholas Drapala, Kristin was the loving wife of not enough years to the extraordinarily lucky but heartbroken Jason K. Ritter, and a devoted mother to three beautiful and sweet daughters: Hayley, Sophie, and Emmy.
Family mattered most to Kristin, and she cherished her relationships as the beloved sister of Michelle (Phil) Brusco; granddaughter of Antoinette Minkus; great niece of Clara Wasylik and Anna Ritter; niece of David (Kathy) Drapala, Karen (Wayne) Dilla, the late Pam Minkus, and Yvonne (Bruce) Thompson; aunt to Mason and Mia Brusco, Rick and CB Ritter, Cooper and Adalyn Ritter, and Jacob McKay; cousins with Tyler Thompson, Lauren (Joe) Burfitt, and Julie (Brian) Paturzo; daughter-in-law to Georgene (Zerishnek) Ritter and the late Eugene Ritter; and sister-in-law to Gene (Tonia) Ritter, Eric (Autumn) Ritter, Matthew Ritter, and Amanda (Danny) McKay.
Passing away after a fierce battle with cancer, Kristin impressed everyone with her grit as she dealt with circumstances that were not fair and suffering that was too much. She often stated the reason she continued to fight her disease with such intensity was because she wanted to remain here for her family, and because she wanted to give back and make the journey through breast cancer easier for those behind her. She was remarkable in that way, and her absence in the world is to our collective detriment.
Kristin most relished her role as a mother. She loved watching Hayley grow into a strong, beautiful young woman who was impossibly able to fill the void in the household caused by her cancer, ranging from mundane acts like housekeeping to more consequential acts like passing along family traditions. Kristin also loved laying the foundation for what matters in life to both Sophie and Emmy. As a corollary of her love for her children, she contributed in numerous ways to her community of South Fayette, where she forged meaningful relationships with so many friends. She will be sorely missed.
Owing to the pandemic and space restrictions, a private viewing for family will take place at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, 301 Curry Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236 on Thursday, September 10, 2020, from 1-4 p.m., with services and burial to be held on Friday, September 11, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. Our hope is to arrange a memorial or celebration of life service at a later date for her many friends and others impacted by her cancer story.
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