Gertrude (Ritzdorf) Scarlato, age 89, passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2022 after an 18 month battle with dementia.

Born on February 2, 1933 in Cedar Rapids, NE, she was the daughter of the late Adolph and Gertrude Ritzdorf.

On November 26, 1955, she was united in marriage to Samuel Scarlato in Kenosha.

After raising five children, she returned to the workforce. She worked for Kenosha Unified Food Service and did tax preparation for H & R Block.

She was a long-time member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Kenosha Senior Center, was a long-time blood donor, and volunteered in the Shalom Center soup kitchen. She enjoyed line dancing, shooting pool, caring for others, going to her grandchildren’s sporting events and above all else, spending time with her family.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Kim Alonzo, Janet (James) Perone, Christine Foss, Joseph Scarlato; her grandchildren, Michael Tidwell, Sr., Jacquelyn Batton, DeMario Hudson, Marcus Hudson, Matthew Foss, Anna Scarlato, Samuel Scarlato; her great-grandchildren, Michael Tidwell, Jr., Savannah Tidwell, Myles Hudson, Maison Hudson, Macklin Hudson; her brother, Richard Ritzdorf.

In addition to her parents, Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel; her daughter, Susan Scarlato; her granddaughter, Jessica Foss; her daughter-in-law, Sara Scarlato; her son-in-law, Felix Alonzo; her brother-in-law, John Scarlato, and her eight siblings.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Hospice Alliance, and to the caregivers at Home Inspired Senior Living.

Service Info

Funeral services honoring Gertrude’s life will be held on Monday, March 21, 2022.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 7400 39^th Avenue, Kenosha, WI.  The service and visitation may be viewed via livestream on Monday, March 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. on the following link facebook.com/PiaseckiFuneralHome/live/. You do not need Facebook to watch.

Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery.

A visitation for Gertrude will be held on Monday, March 21, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations made to Hospice Alliance www.hospicealliance.org or to St. Mary’s Catholic Church www.stmarycatholic.weshareonline.org would be appreciated by the family.