On October 19, 2020, the world lost one of its most gentle, most caring, most generous people.  Teresa Ann Ritton passed away, after a very short illness, with her family by her side. She fought hard, but, ultimately, cancer was not to be denied.

Teresa was born on August 5, 1949, to Jack and Teresa (Keyes) Gillette in Sidney, NY. Teresa eventually spent most of her young adulthood with her step-mother, Gertrude and step-father, Westley Foote. She lived and was schooled in Oneonta.

Teresa met and was married to Ralph Ritton on August 14, 1970. She lived in Westford where they raised a family of four children.

Teresa started working in 1969 at Custom Electronics in Oneonta, from there she moved to NYSEG and worked there until family obligations got to be a factor. She returned to the workplace as the principal's secretary in Andrew S. Draper School in Schenevus. She spent the rest of her career there being loved and respected by both staff and administration but, more importantly, by the students. She could identify each of the students by name and where they lived. Even now as they reach middle age, her students recognize and speak to her and recall their favorite "Mrs. Ritton" moments.

Teresa was a member of the Westford Methodist Church and the Westford Community Association. She was the treasurer of both the Westford Fire District as well as the Westford Fire Department. In her community, if there was a cause, she was supporting it.

In her life there are virtually hundreds of people that have been the beneficiaries of her talents. Many babies were brought home from the hospital in blankets that she knitted or baby quilts that she sewed. She supplied sports teams with warm blankets, in the school colors. Each member of the 1992 graduating class of Schenevus received a key chain that she had cross stitched with the students' names. The Ritton homes were decorated with hangings, table runners and place mats, all produced with her loving hand.

Teresa is survived by her husband, Ralph, and four children, ten grandchildren and one great-grandson; son, Kevin and Debbie, their children, Andrew and Erika; son, Brian and his partner, Elizabeth, children Alex and Aubrie, Jasmine and her son Carter; son, Jason and Shana, children Conner, Cadence and Annabelle; daughter, Kimberlee and her fiancé Cade with children, Julian and Alexis and his daughter Paisley.

She was predeceased by her parents; her in-laws, June and Ken Ritton, and a sister-in-law whom she adored, Georgia (Ritton) Brown

Teresa will be remembered during calling hours from 4 to 6 PM, Tuesday October 27 ^th at Heller & Skinner Funeral Home, 155 Main St., Worcester, NY.  Masks and social distancing will be expected, and be prepared to wait to enter the building. The family requests that if you have any special thoughts or memories of Teresa, please write them down and bring them to the funeral home. Note cards and addresses will be available. The family would like to share the remembrances for years to come. They will hold them, as they hold her, near to and in their hearts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to either the Susquehanna SPCA, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326, www.sqspca.org ; or Helios (Catskill Area Hospice), 297 River Street Service Road, Oneonta, NY 13820, www.helioscare.org

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to, www.hellerskinnerfh.com