Lucy M. Rietschlin, age 84, died peacefully at home on January 7, 2021.
She was born on December 27, 1936, in Shelby, Ohio, to the late Clement and Mae (Sutter) Metzger. Lucy was the youngest daughter in a large, German-Catholic family where faith, family, education, and hard work were pillars of her upbringing. A life-long resident of Shelby Settlement and parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Bethlehem, she only left the area briefly as a child to attend boarding school at the Villa Maria in Pennsylvania. After graduating, she returned home and worked in the payroll department at Copperweld for 17 years.
Lucy’s greatest goal and most spectacular achievement was to be a wife and mother. In 1970, she married Mark L. Rietschlin and spent the next 50 years devoted to him and their children. Lucy and Mark were proud of their six children, (two sets of twins), for many reasons but particularly that all six received a higher education after high school. For the last 17 years, she has been an attentive and caring grandmother to her eleven grandchildren.
Lucy took delight in being a farmer’s wife, caring for her family, maintaining her home, watching her children and grandchildren play sports, and volunteering at church. She was especially skilled in the kitchen, and her cookies were praised all over the community, earning her names, like “Cookie Grandma” and “Home-made Lucy.” Lucy also enjoyed gardening, both vegetable and flowers, and anything to do with yardwork. She looked forward to her weekly pinochle games, though intense, they were filled with laughter and conversation with her dear friends. Of course, she enjoyed her cards even more when she had winning hands.
Lucy was a genuine Christian role model and lived by her faith. She said numerous rosaries daily asking Mother Mary for her intercession for the protection of her family, giving thanks, seeking aid for those in need, and asking for world peace. Lucy prayed so many rosaries that her husband Mark quipped, “She must have worn out well over 118 rosaries over the years!”
She is survived by her husband, Mark; her children: Sam (Angela) Rietschlin of Crestline; Heidi Rietschlin of Mansfield; Andy (Paula) Rietschlin of Shelby; Heather (Ron) Shepherd of Shelby; Carrie (Michael) Kemerer of Crestline; and Jake (Jessica) Rietschlin of Shelby; 11 grandchildren: Luke, Marshall, Nathan, Grace, Elizabeth, Michael, Louie, Karen, Veronica, Jude, and Charlie; two brothers: Joe (Lynne) Metzger of Marion and Jim (Janice) Metzger of Chardon; two sisters-in-law: Pat Metzger and Alice Metzger; her dear friend and cousin, Rosemary Sutter; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and six brothers: Hubert Metzger, Carl Metzger, John Metzger, Leo Metzger, Fr. Clement Metzger, and an infant brother, Carl Joseph Metzger; and four sisters: Nellie Young, Rosemary Keller, Sr. Celine (Agnes) Metzger, and Loretta Paskert.
The Mark Rietschlin Family would like to thank everyone for their support, prayers, and kindness through the years as Lucy battled many chronic illnesses; especially those who provided direct care at the end of her life: Dr. Ajay Chawla, Valerie Castle, Sara Hammer, Danielle Reith, and Linda Wahl.
Family and friends are welcome to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 5742 State Route 61, Shelby, Ohio 44875 on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11 am for Lucy’s funeral mass with Msgr. Dennis Metzger, her nephew, and Fr. Jeff Smith, her pastor, concelebrating. For those wishing, guests are welcome to join in praying the rosary just prior to mass at 10:45 am at the church. Lucy’s funeral will also be live streamed on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bethlehem, Ohio Facebook page. Burial will follow mass in the church cemetery. Calling hours will not be observed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Sacred Heart School, Shelby.
Care for Lucy and her family is being provided by the Penwell Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby.
Appropriate ways to express sympathy for those unable to attend may be done by leaving an online condolence at www.PenwellTurner.com or by leaving a comment on Lucy’s obituary on the funeral home’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/PenwellFuneral.
