Susan Mary (Raitz) Kertz

Susan Mary (Raitz) Kertz was born August 15, 1939 in Toledo, Ohio and died peacefully just shy of her 86th birthday on August 13, 2025 in Upper Arlington, Ohio.

Sue grew up in East Toledo and graduated from Central Catholic High School. A bright student, she was one of only two girls in physics class. After high school, Sue, with her lifelong dear friends, Marlene, Elaine, and Marilyn, attended Mercy School of Nursing, where she was president of her class and played on the basketball team. Upon graduation as a registered nurse, she began her life of service to others. Later, Sue continued her education by earning a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Toledo while working and raising children. During her long nursing career, Sue held many roles at the Toledo Hospital and also coordinated home health care for discharged patients at Caring Services.

After retirement, Sue continued her service for others as a volunteer. She spent time coordinating funeral lunches at Gesu Parish and was a dedicated member of the Christ Child Society of Toledo. Through Christ Child, she helped knit angel layettes for area hospitals, read to children to promote literacy, and proudly taught parenting classes at the Toledo Catholic Club. In 2009, Sue received the Christ Child Red Wagon Award honoring a member for significant contributions to the Chapter.

Sue loved reading and the Toledo libraries and shared her love of books with her grandchildren. One of her favorite Nana activities was to cuddle with a grandchild in her lap next to a stack of books or lay with them to read before going to sleep. Sue also enjoyed her book club with her friends, which incorporated another of her interests, cooking. She always cherished her family gathering around the dining room table for a homemade meal, especially for Thanksgiving dinner, which her children affectionately refer to as “The Masterpiece.” Sue frequently recalled preparing Hungarian dishes with her grandmother, and she and her husband, George, took cooking classes together at the University of Toledo.

Sue married George, the love of her life, in 1968. Together for nearly sixty years, Sue and George were great partners, parents, grandparents, and friends to others. Throughout their marriage, they were active together, belonged to the local ski club in their younger years, traveled around the US and Europe, were dedicated parishioners of Gesu, played bridge with friends, and loved attending live musical performances, especially jazz. Their children fondly remember her as a loving and affectionate mother and could not have asked for a better role model. Sue was truly loved by all of her family and friends, and we will miss her kind smile and generous spirit.

Sue is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Rozelle (“Gizella”) Raitz and is survived by her husband, George; children Eric (Andrea), Mark (Victoria), and Joanie (Jim) Yurko; grandchildren Hailey, Kaitlyn, Jake, Peter, Juliana, and Jillian; brother Robert; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday September 20, 2025 at Gesu Catholic Church 2049 Parkside Blvd. Toledo, OH. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Sue to the Christ Child Society of Toledo. Please visit christchildsocietyoftoledo.org/donate to donate.