Mae Janet Ritter Baroody

AVOCA – Born to Walter and Grace Ritter on 10/27/1934, entered into eternal rest 10/22/2025 at Steuben Center, Bath, NY. After a three-year battle with Parkinson’s and dementia.

Mae was the mother of Shirley Obrochta/Wilson (Sonny dec) Phillip, Walter aka Skip (dec), Darlene Obrien (Steve), Gerald aka Butch (Debbie), and Theresa Long (Ronald)

She was the loving grandma to 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren, as well as Grandma Mae to many that were not born to her but that she had charge of throughout her lifetime.

Mae was married to the late John Baroody for 38 years until they both went their separate ways

She went to school and graduated from Hammondsport Central School in 1951. Where she met her best friend in grade school, Helen Loveland. They remained best friends for over 80 years and stayed in touch by phone, letters, and occasional visits throughout the years. Helen will miss her deeply

Mae worked for many years at Ketch Krest Dairy, The Days Inn, and Twin Kiss Ice Cream, all in Bath, NY. She also ran her own day care for many years, taking care of children until her early 80s when her day care children came full circle and she cared for the children of the children she started out with. That’s where she got the name Grandma Mae.

She belonged to the Champaigne Whirl-A-Ways square dance club. For many years, she traveled around the state to dances with her dance partner Bernard Clark (dec)

Mae loved to go to church and Bible study at the Wallace Wesleyan church in Wallace, NY.

She was an active member of the gym until the age of 85, at which time she could no longer drive and was having frequent falls

Mae was predeceased by her oldest son Walter, her oldest grandson son John Ritchie, her parents, and her siblings, Roy Ritter, Ruth Ordway, James Ritter, Robert Ritter, Paul Ritter, and Dorthy Ritter.

Mae is survived by two sisters, Nancy Palmer of Bath, NY, and Mary Hostetler of Lagrange, Indiana.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Wesleyan Church in Wallace, NY. Funeral service will follow the calling hours. A luncheon will be provided immediately after the service. 

Bishop & DeSanto Funeral Home, Avoca, is honored to assist Mae’s family with the arrangements. 

Online condolences or remembrances are welcome below, or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.