Catherine Marie Ritchey

Catherine Marie Ritchey, 78, passed away on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at Halifax Hospital in Daytona Beach, Florida after a sudden illness.

Catherine was born in Schenectady, New York on January 1, 1945, the daughter of the late Oswald and Sarah Plunz. She graduated from Linton High School (now Schenectady High School).

Catherine was employed mainly in the construction and generator industry earlier in life, and then started her career at Baptist Nursing Home in Scotia, New York as an administrator during the years leading up to her retirement.  Catherine and her late husband Paul also owned the Scotia Art Theater (now Scotia Cinema) in their early years of marriage.

Catherine had just relocated to Port Orange, Florida in May 2023 to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, and was enjoying the nice warm weather, new friends, new activities and traveling.  Catherine loved gardening and flowers.  Catherine also had a love and passion for creating and decorating greeting cards with inspirational words and was teaching others how to create cards all the way up to her passing.  Catherine had just spent a week in South Florida and Key West with her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter and a good time was had by all.  Catherine and her late husband Paul traveled to Maine every year for many years and she had a love of the water and the peace and solitude it brought to her.

She was predeceased by her husband, Paul Ritchey.

Catherine is survived by her daughter, Heidi Stembridge of Port Orange, Florida; son-in-law James Stembridge of Port Orange, Florida; granddaughter Heather Snedeker of Sanford, Florida; brother Robert Plunz of Schenectady, NY; brother Richard Plunz of New York, New York; sister-in-law Mariapaola Sutto of New York, New York; and niece Sarah Sutto-Plunz of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Funeral Services to which family and friends are invited will be held on Friday morning October 20, 2023 at 10 a.m. for public gathering and 11 a.m. for service at the Bekkering-Ellis Funeral Home, Inc. 1 Mohawk Ave, Scotia, New York.  A celebration of life reception will immediately follow the service across the street at the Turf Tavern in Scotia, New York.

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