Joanne Marie Ritter Sennewald

Joanne Marie (Ritter) Sennewald, 88, of Frederick, Maryland, passed from this life on Monday, October 30, 2023 at Spring Arbor of Frederick.  She was the wife of the late Karl Sennewald.  Born on March 20, 1935, in Watsontown, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Wilbur Ritter and Annie (Ellis) Ritter.

Joanne graduated from Watsontown High School, Class of 1953, and the Williamsport Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1956.  Upon graduation she practiced hospital nursing before beginning a new career as an underwriter analyzing claims for GEICO, the insurance company.  She took a break from her career after marrying and having three sons, but with her children in school she returned to GEICO as an occupational nurse. Joanne loved playing tennis with her friends in Potomac and belonged to multiple foursomes.  She enjoyed walking on the beach in the morning at Hilton Head and having a glass of wine in the afternoon everywhere.  

Joanne was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Exchange, Pennsylvania and attended St. Francis Episcopal Church in Potomac until she moved to Frederick to be near her son.

She is survived by her sons: Marc Sennewald and wife Sarah, Daniel Sennewald and wife Kelly, and Douglas Sennewald and wife Kathleen, as well as her grandchildren: Ryan Sennewald, Amy Sennewald, Kaitlin Sennewald, James Sennewald and Alexander Sennewald.  She is also survived by her niece and sister-at-heart, Christine Fyfe, her sister-in-law, Louise Ritter, her brother-in-law Perry Sennewald, and many nieces and nephews.  She is predeceased by her husband Karl, her brothers Gordon Ritter, Wilbur Ritter, Jr., and William Ritter, and sisters Irene Cole and Eleanor Gottschall. 

A memorial service will take place at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Potomac, Maryland at 11:00 a.m. on December 1st.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Frederick Health Hospice, PO Box 1799, Frederick, MD 21702.