Dorothea Ann Tritz

GLENDALE – Dorothea Ann (Hatz) Tritz November 13, 1929 – May 8th, 2022 Dorothea Ann (Hatz) Tritz’ life was dedicated to children. She was a busy stay-at-home mother of John, Thomas, Steven, Judith and Larry in her early days in Tolleson. Late in the 1960s “Mrs. Tritz” began a second career working for the children of Tolleson, AZ as a member of the Tolleson Elementary School staff. For the next 25 years she worked with and assisted many children and parents associated with the school district of Tolleson. Her favorite activity was reading to young children in the library. Active in the Tolleson Women’s Club, she served in every office from member to President. One mission of the Tolleson Women’s Club was to support the Tolleson Public Library. In April of 2019, her love, knowledge, kindness, fairness and dedication to the entire community of Tolleson resulted in her being appointed Grand Marshal of the Whoopee Daze Parade and Madrina (Godmother) of Tolleson. These honors were held dearest to her heart for the rest of her life. Born on a 79-acre farm near Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, she lost her mother on Christmas Day in 1936 at the age of seven. She was raised by her father, Lyman Hatz and older brothers and sister. World War II saw her family’s farm incorporated into the Badger Ordinance Works forcing a mid-winter move to nearby Portage, Wisconsin. Dorothea graduated from Portage High School and in 1948 she married John (Jack) B. Tritz. In 1951 with two babies, John was a little over 1 year old, and Tom was a newborn, the family moved west and settled in Tolleson. The Tritz family became part of the Tolleson family. Besides the children of Tolleson and her friends, Mrs. Tritz loved baseball, ice cream, the color red and her hummingbirds. She also loved gardening; she often quoted her father Lyman as saying that God does not count time gardening or working with the soil as part of a person’s life time. Mrs. Tritz, age 92, will join her daughter Judith Ann Tritz at Holy Cross Cemetery. She is missed and survived by her sister Marylin, four sons, twelve grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and the entire city of Tolleson. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Tolleson Public Library, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Tolleson, or a favorite charity. A visitation for Dorothea will be held Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 512 N 93rd Ave, Tolleson, Arizona 85353, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 10045 W Thomas Rd, Avondale, Arizona 85392. Services entrusted to Advantage Crystal Rose.