Ruth Ditz Schill Jeannerat

| October 4, 2017

Ruth Ditz Schill Jeannerat, aged 94, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2017, at Clarview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Sligo.

She was born in what is now the Washington House in Fryburg, PA on February 2, 1923, the daughter of Aloysius and Emma (Schmader) Ditz.

Ruth and her siblings were raised by their parents on the family dairy farm in Fryburg, a property originally settled by their ancestors in 1826. A close-knit group, the family became even closer when their mother Emma passed away when Ruth was 11. Her older sisters, Mary Rose and Frances, stepped in to care for their younger siblings so that their father could run the farm. This amazing family has continued to protect and nurture each other since.

Ruth attended 1st through 8th grades at St. Michael School in Fryburg and graduated from Shippenville High School in 1941. While there, she was a good student and became a varsity letter winner in basketball.

Ruth also developed a passion for singing at this time, becoming a member of the high school chorus and Saint Michael’s choir, where she was a leading soprano.

After high school, Ruth became an accomplished seamstress and tailor, making dresses, suits, coats, wedding gowns, and more for many members of her family and community, especially in her time as a seamstress at Welker and Maxwell in Oil City.

After moving to Shippenville in 1974, she transported special needs children in the Clarion area for years and was loved for her caring nature.

She was also a member of the Immaculate Conception Choir along with her sisters Mary Rose and Joan.

Though she began to write poetry when she was in her late twenties, it wasn’t until she wrote a poem about Christmas and her family in 1981 that she began to share with others what she’d written.

For the next two decades, she wrote and shared many poems about what she knew best–her faith, her family, and her home.

She also loved to recite poetry others had written, and most children she mentored could recite poems such as “The Cremation of Sam McGee” from memory after a fireside evening with her.
Ruth married Raymond Schill on May 8, 1946, at St. Michael’s church in Fryburg, a union that remained until Raymond’s death on May 23, 1968.

After six years of widowhood, Ruth married Harold Jeannerat, and in doing so, combined her family (sons Tony and Greg) with Harold’s family (daughter Beth and sons Kenneth, Gary, David, and Rodney). Her step-children treated her as a second mother for the rest of her life, and they and their children brought her countless hours of companionship and joy.

Ruth touched many lives.

She lived on Shay Street in Seneca for decades and was mom and confidant to many of the neighborhood’s parents and children.

Her ability to listen and support people from all walks of life was experienced by everyone she met.

It was not uncommon for her children to run into family acquaintances over many decades and the first thing they said was, “How is your mom? What a great lady,” before they even asked how her children were.

Ruth truly established a legacy of caring.

She is survived by her son, Gregory Schill (Kathleen Markowski) of Rolling Hills Estates, CA; her sister Joan (Robert) Donahue of Clarion; step-children Kenneth Jeannerat (Sue) of Clarion; Beth (John) Henry of Knox; Garry Jeannerat (Bonnie) of Marble; David Jeannerat (Cathy) of Erie; Rodney Jeannerat (Nancy) of Marble; and her son Tony’s companion of 34 years, Janice Porter of Miola. In addition, she is survived by her 19 grandchildren, Jay Schill (Lynne) of Middletown, MD; Alli Schill (Cliff Dean) of Rochester, NY; Benjamin Schill (Stacey) of Boerne TX; Kathryn (Bob) Montgomery of Joelton TN; Whitney (Matt) Sutley of Fryburg; Mariel Jeannerat of Marble; Emily (Joe) Bunnell of Coudersport, PA; Mary Jeannerat of Marble; Eric Jeannerat (Tara) of Fort Worth, TX:; Jessi (Andy) Koppenhauer of Centennial, CO; Gabe Jeannerat (Dawn) of Clarion; Hayley Jeannerat of Clarion; Daniel Jeannerat (Rachel) of Zelienople;  Pastor John Mark Henry of Indiana, PA; Andrew Henry (Jill) of Knox; Luke Henry (Kristen) of Erie; Christina (Chad) Scanlan of Twin Falls, ID; Adrienne Jeannerat of Portland, OR; and Andrew Musarra of Edinboro. She is also survived by many cherished nieces and nephews and 25 great-grandchildren, including the recent birth of Ruth Ann Henry, who was named after her great-grandmother.

She is also survived by many cherished nieces and nephews and 25 great-grandchildren, including the recent birth of Ruth Ann Henry, who was named after her great-grandmother.

In addition to her parents, Ruth was also preceded in death by her infant son, Gerald Schill, her adult son, Tony Schill, her first husband Raymond Schill, her second husband, Harold Jeannerat, and her siblings, Paul Ditz, Agnes McCloskey, Mary Rose Ditz, Robert “Mex” Ditz, Frances Ochs, and Gerald “Jud” Ditz.

The family requests that donations be considered in her name be made to the Clarion-Forest VNA, 271 Perkins Road, Clarion PA 16214 (www.cfvna.org).

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, October 14th at 11:00 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clarion, PA.

There will not be visitation prior to the mass.

Arrangements are under the care of the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory in Clarion.

Friends and family may send online condolences, order memorials and obtain additional information by visiting www.goblefh.net.


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Category: Obituaries