Rosie A. "Alice" Swartz, 94, of the Franklin and Seneca areas, died at 3:35 p.m. on Friday, November 25, 2016 at Sugarcreek Station in Franklin. 

            She was born in Emlenton to the late Frank Edward and Bertha Caroline (Shirey) Ritts on July 30, 1922.

            She attended the former Salina Elementary School in Cranberry. 

            In her earlier years, she attended the Victory Heights United Brethren Church. 

            Rosie enjoyed crocheting and embroidery, flower gardening, and working on word search puzzles.  She was a dedicated homemaker who enjoyed taking care of her family, was an excellent baker, and enjoyed spending time with her family and babysitting her grandchildren. 

            She was married in the United Brethren Church in Victory Heights on May 26, 1942 to Earl P. Swartz, and he preceded her in death on August 15, 2010. 

            Surviving are six children: Connie Hitchcock and her husband Paul of Sinclairville, NY, Millie Larson and her husband Mark of Volant, Kenneth Swartz and his wife Cathy of Seneca, Richard Swartz of Franklin, James Swartz and his wife Gay of Franklin, and Norma "Sis" Fry and her husband Dennis of Franklin;  and 19 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 18 great-great-grandchildren.

            Also surviving are two sisters, Esther McClain of Youngstown, Ohio, and Pauline Hazen of Franklin; numerous nieces and nephews; and a close family friend, Tom McLane of Tucson, Arizona. 

            In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Leonard, Fred, Lawrence, Sam, and Bob Ritts; five sisters, Bessie Whitling, Geraldine Weary, Lydia Morrison, Vera Dougher, and Kate Foster; two grandchildren, Robert and Steven Swartz; six great-grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Swartz. 

            Friends and family will be received Tuesday (Nov. 29th) from 5 - 8 p.m. in the Hile-Best Funeral Home, Inc., 2781 Rte. 257 in Seneca, Cranberry Township.  The funeral service will be held in the funeral home Wednesday (Nov. 30) at 11 a.m. with Pastor Randy Powell of the First Baptist Church in Franklin, officiating. 

            Interment will follow in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens in Cranberry. 

            Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301,  Cincinnati, OH 45250; or to the Venango County Humane Society, 286 South Main St., Seneca, PA  16346.

            To express condolences to the family online, please visit www.hilebest.com  

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