Vergena Ritchey
November 10, 1926 ~ February 10, 2013
Born in: Franklin, Pennsylvania
Vergena Caroline Ritchey, 86, went to heaven to snuggle up to Jesus on Sunday morning February 10, 2013 at the home of her son Jerry. Vergena was born on November 10, 1926 in Franklin, PA but lived the majority of her life in Cooperstown. On February 14, 1947 she married James Roy Red Ritchey Jr., and he preceded her in death on May 26, 1988. She was the daughter of William and Anna Beers, who preceded her in death. She sold Stanley Home Products for 56 years and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of her job. Vergena loved spending time with her family and friends, especially if she could cook for them. She enjoyed fishing at Black Lake, New York as well as trout fishing on Sugar Creek. She loved her family and said frequently that her kids and grandkids were her riches. She also called them her little sweeties. Vergena was passionate about sharing her love for Jesus with anyone who would listen. She loved spending her winters in Hobe Sound, Florida and wanted her family to come and join her when they could. She is fondly remembered as a loving mother, grandmother and friend. Vergena is survived by her sons, Jerry Ritchey and his wife, Linda, and Rev. Randy Ritchey and his wife, Christine; her brother, John Beers and his wife, Melda; her sister, Leola Neely; her daughter-in-law, Deborah Ritchey; her six grandchildren, Rhett Ritchey and his wife, Julie, Ryan Ritchey, Alicia Biondi and her husband, Dan, Matt Ritchey and his wife, Mindy, Megan Crawford and her husband, Matt, and Brandon Ritchey and his wife, Richelle; and her eleven great-grandchildren, Cole, Quinn, Connor and Makayla Ritchey, Isabella, Chloe, Landry and Sawyer Biondi, and Greyson Crawford. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her son, Jim Ritchey; her brothers, Rev. Wilber Beers and William Beers; and her sister, Esther Kightlinger. A celebration of Vergenas life will be held at Cooperstown Evangelistic Tabernacle on Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 11:00 AM, with visitation at Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 from 3-8 PM. Interment will be in Bethel Cemetery. The family suggest that memorial contributions be made to the Cooperstown Evangelistic Tabernacle, PO Box 176, Cooperstown, PA 16317-0176. To send online condolences, flowers, cards, or for further information, family and friends are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com
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She was such a special lady! I was privileged to be able to know her and be in her home many times. Of course, I have enjoyed some of her yummy food! She loved Jesus and I remember her saying didn’t know what she would do without Him! May God be with the family in a special way.
We send our sincere condolences to the Ritchey family. All of you are special and we thank God for the Faith in Jesus that sustains you and gives you the hope of being reunited in eternity. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you. Eldo and Dorothy Burkholder
Sister Ritchey…. what a lady! She always made us feel special. She was the one that was very special. “Meet you in the morning, Sister Ritchey!”
Love to the whole family during this time. Wish we could be with you all.
Rowan and Judy
I knew Vergena from her coming to Hobe Sound for the winter. She was a very friendly lady and took an interest in everyone. Her smile, sweet spirit, and love for the Lord will always be remembereed. I am so sorry for your loss, but Heaven is richer! You will be in my prayers at this difficult time.
Hold tight to your many wonderful memories for comfort, lean on your friends for strength, and always remember how much you are loved. Vergena was a treasure to your family and I know she will be greatly missed, but there is coming a day…:)
Dear Ritchey family,
My heart goes out to you all for this time of loss. Your mother has been such
a wonderful spiritual inspiration to me down through the years. I will sure miss
seeing her again. I loved visiting with her at Hobe Sound in the winter, when I
lived there, as well as when I just visited the Camp Meeting. You all are definitely
in my prayers! Your friend, Rev. Edward Overdorff
Oh how I will miss her! She was a wonderful friend and neighbor. She also took good care of me in her home in PA when I stayed with her while traveling with the HSBC trio. I loved her potato salad!!! She was an amazing person and will always be lovingly remembered. I will look forward to the family still coming to FL and staying next to me on the campus! Love to all of you.
I’ll never forget how kindness and graciousness of Mrs. Ritchey. Anytime I was around her she was smiling and doing things for her family and others. A Godly woman! God bless.
dear jerry&randy(ick),
i am so sorry for your loss.she was certainly a VERY special lady.i was truely blessed to know her.i will always treasure my memories of all of you.
you know that Ritchey smile was there whenRed,Jimmie,and her were together the first time(i’m sure it will never go away.
if i can do ANYTHING please let me know.
mike
Jerry & Family — So sorry for the loss of your Mom.
Our thoughts and prayers to you and your family at this
difficult time. May God bless.
I feel very blessed to have know Vergena. She was one of the sweetest and most loving human beings that I had ever met. She loved the lord with all of her heart and now she is home with him. What a celebration!
An angel has returned to Heaven..
Sorry to here Virgina Passed, she will be greatly missed, she was a wonderful person. She was related to the Beers side and aunt Elsie made us related. I love her dearly an will miss her.
So very sorry for your loss, may your many memories get you through this time.
I am so sorry to hear of Vergena’s passing. What an enoyable lady! We will certainly miss her visits to the orchard. Take care and God Bless!
Your friends at Barber’s Orchard
My sympathy is with the family. What a truly awesome person she was. Even though she wasn’t my grandmother, I still called her grandma Vergena because of her sweet, compassionate, and loving spirit. When I think of her, I think of the love of Jesus which emanated from her whether by actions or words. Watching her live a godly life challenged me. What a legacy she leaves in the hearts and lives of all who knew her.
Our sympathy at the human loss, but we rejoice with you as she is in the presence of Jesus and her loved ones that awaited her arrival. Love and Prayers. Mike and Bev
Just wanted to add my sympathy for the family, especially to Leola and to Randy and his family, as I know you folks the best. I last saw Vergena in Hobe Sound during camp meeting there, it was so good to see her friendly smile. I always apprecaited the spirit that she carried with her that spoke of the Lord Jesus. I know you will miss her, but I also know that Heaven is a better place for her, and know that someday we will see her again.
My love and Prayers to you all
Because I only knew Vergena Ritchey a little bit as a girl growing up, what sticks in my memory the most is her warm spirit and sweet smile. She seemed to me to be one of those people who would always be there. I was saddened to hear of her passing. May God be with you, her family, left behind to continue the journey. My sympathy is with you.
Mrs. Ritchey was such a warm, friendly person who should serve as a role model for humankind. No one was a stranger with her. I remember hearing Linda talk about her in the library with such passion and love and thinking, “that’s the kind of mother I want to be; that’s how I want my children to remember me.” Now is the time for all those beautiful memories to be stored in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. It’s never easy to say goodbye~regardless of the circumstances~but one day in the future you will see that beautiful smile again, with arms held open wide, welcoming you home. God bless and comfort you all.
Tammy Bell
my parents Jack & Lois Mong lived beside her & her husband in cooperstown. as growing up she was always around. & invited us to sunday school when we were little. when mom had garage sales she came by & just talked about anything.& watched as the bear came by in my parents back yd. I still have an angel she gave my parents when I was born. now she is an angel. will be sad to go to my parents & look over at the house & she wont be there. she was a very lovely lady & will be missed. prayers to the family & friends .
Dear Jerry & family – I am so sorry to hear of your mothers passing. She was a great, funny lady & was a joy to be around. Please take Solace knowing she is in a better place & her suffering is over. God Bless & may she Rest In Peace.