Frances “Fran” Beatrice Tritz (Curtis maiden name), age 96 passed away peacefully Tuesday, November 12, 2024 with her daughter by her side at Our House Assisted Living in Baraboo, WI. 

Fran was born  August 15, 1928 in Portage, WI, the daughter of Cephas and Irene (Lynch) Curtis. She was baptized August 22, 1928 at St. Mary of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Pardeeville, WI. Fran was confirmed October 16, 1941 at St. Brendan Catholic Church in Brandon, WI. She graduated from Pardeeville High School in 1946 and was class President. She was united in marriage to Roland “Rollie” Tritz  April 10, 1948 at St Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Portage, WI. Four children blessed their marriage. Fran worked for the Portage Daily Register and kept books for Marcellon Cheese Factory and drove cheese to Fremont WI. 

Fran loved her family, from hosting morning coffee after church with her daughters’ families while they were young, to Christmas Eve gatherings both at the cheese factory house on Military Rd. In 1986 she and Rollie retired and moved to Waynesboro, TN, near the small town of Hohenwald, TN. There they welcomed family and friends who visited and made all feel special at their home and cabin. Grandchildren especially loved time with Grandma and Grandpa, exploring their property and swim time in the “crick” and its natural swimming pool.

Fran was an avid and dedicated walker in the Town of Marcellon she always walked Military and Dolgner Rd. In Tennessee during spring and fall farm tillage she walked local farm fields searching and collecting Native American artifacts, arrowheads being the most frequent find. She also was a diligent rug maker weaving fabrics to varied sizes, some as large as a room. In 1991 she moved back to Wisconsin after Rollie passed and lived near Rio on the Breneman home farm until 2020. Fran was also a gifted artist, painting was her specialty as she created country scenes on saw and disc blades from farm implements. More recently her artwork included the painting of Santas on decorative gourds. These were prized Christmas gifts to family members. Beyond walks during this time she enjoyed visits from family, frequent visits to her daughter Karen’s house just down the road and nearby sister Irene “Babe”. Additionally, she spent many treasured occasions with siblings, nieces and friends playing cards, traveling and spending holidays at her daughters’ family get togethers. Fran always enjoyed antiquing, especially with her daughters and grandchildren. She had a keen eye for special treasured finds and those of us that antiqued with her know while those objects were fun to discover with her,  she was the most treasured part of those adventures. 

She loved being a mother, loved her family and we all loved her. She is survived by her children, Elizabeth (Donald) DeWitt, Karen (Robert) Breneman, Pam (Mel) Croll, Patricia “Trish” (Bruce) Borchert; twelve grandchildren, Shawn (Jennifer) Jerome, Jennefer (Tom) Killoran, Josephine (Joe) Daniels, Russell (Abby) Jerome, Randy (Sabrina) Jerome, Bethany (Vaughn) Loos, Kevin (Valerie) Breneman, Mel (Sharon) Croll, Menion Croll, Mathew Croll, Chrystal (Dan) Hollingsworth, Christopher (Heather) Skokan; 36 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren Harvest and Isaac, many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandchild Sean Jerome; parents Cephas and Irene; husband Roland; brothers Harry, Jack, Tom, Vincent “Red” and sisters Marjorie, Colleen and Irene “Babe”. 

A special thank you to the staff at Our House Assisted Living in Baraboo that looked after Fran with compassionate care these last two and half years and to Bristol Hospice for the special and dignified care your staff shared with Fran. Your kind acts will not be forgotten. 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. 

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in Peace. Amen