Funeral Mass for Sister M. Christella Ritchey, O.S.F. (Order of St. Francis), 83, who died Tuesday, April 21, was celebrated Tuesday, April 28 at Columbus Christ the King Church. Burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery, Columbus.
She was born Carolyn Ritchey on Dec. 24, 1942 in Columbus to George and Clara (Johnson) Ritchey.
She was a graduate of Columbus Holy Rosary School and Rosary High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Rosary Hill College (now Daemen College) in Amherst, New York, in 1967 and a Master of Arts degree in theology from the University of Dayton in 1983.
She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity at Stella Niagara, New York, on Sept. 4, 1960 and professed her first vows on Aug. 18, 1963 and her final vows on the same date in 1968.
She served in the Diocese of Columbus for 40 years, working as an aide with the Joint Organization for Inner-City Needs from 2005 to 2016 and as religious education director at Columbus St. Catharine of Siena Church from 1983 to 2005. She also was a teacher at Columbus St. Anthony School (1976-1977), assistant director of Teens Encounter Christ (1977-1978) and religious education director at Pickerington St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish (1978-1982) and Columbus St. Anthony Church (1982-1983).
In addition, she was a teacher and religious education director in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, and a member of the provincial council of her order.
She entered hospice care in January.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Ralph, and a sister, Rita Kunkler. She is survived by two sisters, Mary Jo Weakley and Betty Caldwell.