We bid farewell to our beloved Laura T. Patterson-Ritz the evening of Friday June 5, 2026. She spent her final days at Albany Medical Center surrounded by her friends and family, and her final moments were spent as she would have wished - with her soul mate Thor by her side.

Laura was born in Yonkers NY on September 30, 1954, to Elizabeth Doyle Schulze and Albert Joseph Schulze. She was a graduate of Cobleskill High School, class of 1972 where her love of football began. As a Cheerleader, Laura was often found running down the sidelines with the team instead of performing for the crowd.

Laura then went on to complete her Associates in Nursing at the University of Bridgeport, CT. She worked for Norwalk Hospital and Cobleskill Hospital where she thrived in Emergency situations, always putting her patients and their families first. Though often working around trauma, Laura took the time to teach those around her and advocate for nurse's rights.

Laura was a proud member of Al-Anon for 34 years where she found a second family supporting the loved ones of Alcoholics. Beyond Al-Anon, Laura always provided an open and loving home to all who crossed her doorstep. Whether you were visiting for a few moments or for days, you would be welcomed with a cup of tea, home cooked meal and an unjudging listening ear.

Laura is survived by her husband Thor C. Ritz, children Larkin (Philip) Nikolaus, Bailey (Jeremy) Walz, Thor Manning (Daisy) Ritz, Jaime (Jerry) Januszewski, Allie Ritz; brothers Albert "Al" Schulze, Charles "Chuck" Schulze, Marty Schulze; 6 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild.

Laura approached the world with a sense of wonder, curiosity and creativity. She was a collector of trinkets and a lover of football, travel, Harry Potter, Disney, a good mystery and questionable frog jokes. She was an excellent and creative cook. She was a kind and loving mother who allowed her children to find their own paths in this world while providing steadfast and non-judgmental support. She was quietly brave and strong. She was an absolute light in this world, and her absence will be felt by many for years to come.

A celebration of Laura's life will be held from 3:00-5:00 pm on June 17, 2026, with a memorial service to follow at 5:00 pm at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home,171 Elm Street in Cobleskill, NY.

Contributions in memory of Laura T. Patterson Ritz may be made to the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley, PO Box 40, Howes Cave, NY 12092.

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." ~A.A. Milne