Obituary of Sister Rita Marie Fritzen

Sister Rita Marie Fritzen, OSF went home to God on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.  She was born in Orange N.J. and was a Sister of St. Francis for 40 years.

Sister Rita grew up in Maplewood, NJ, where she attended Benedictine Academy in Elizabeth and The College of St. Elizabeth’s in Covent Station where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in teaching. She acquired her Masters in Education Administration from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Sister Rita’s career in education spanned more than 40 years where she taught and served as principal throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Sister’s ministry of service to the people of God began in the field of Education.  She not only loved her work, but excelled as both a teacher and administrator.  She served as Admissions Consultant for St. Bonaventure University, Associate Director of Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Newark N.J. and Principal at All Saints Catholic Academy in Bayonne, N.J.  In 2021, she was elected as a General Councilor to the Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities.  In July of 2025, Sister was elected as General Minister of the Congregation.

Sister is pre-deceased by her parents, Edward L. and Mary Ann (Finley) Fritzen, one brother, Robert, and a sister, Mary Patricia.  Surviving are her brothers Edward and his wife Michele, James, Thomas and his wife Colleen); her sisters, Ann Marie and her husband John Tetar and Jean Fritzen, several nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews, along with the Sisters of St. Francis. 

Visitation will be from 9:00 – 11:00 A.M. Saturday October 11, 2025 at Immaculate Conception Church, 400 Salt Springs Rd., Fayetteville, NY followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M. (The Mass will be livestreamed and may be found on the Immaculate Conception Church website at www.icfayetteville.org).

Sister Rita will come home to New Jersey for an additional viewing that will take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave, Maplewood, NJ. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, NJ, where she will be laid to rest.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, Congregational Development Office, 225 Greenfield Pkwy., Suite 208, Liverpool, NY  13088.