Matilda (Pitlik) Dietz

Matilda (Pitlik) Dietz, 97, passed away peacefully at her home, June 30th, 2026, surrounded by her children.

Matilda was born at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Danville, Illinois on March 14, 1929, the daughter of Joseph and Matilda Ruzzon Pitlik. Two days later a crying baby boy, Charles Dietz, was placed next to her in the nursery. He would go on to tell the story of how she comforted him and said, “Don’t worry Charles, I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life”…and their love story began.  Twenty years later, on September 10, 1949, they were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. They spent the next 73 years building a home and life together. With the arrival of each of their four children they built a new addition to their house.

Life was always better for her when she had something to tend to: her family, her greenhouse, or the elderly neighbors around her. She was a genuine friend of the friendless. She enjoyed crafts and hobbies too numerous to mention but gardening, crocheting, and sewing were her favorites.  Her gift and her curse were that her hands and mind could never be idle.  And though she always said she hated to cook, she was famous for her “pie that look like cake”. 

She is survived by her children; Charles Dietz, Jr. (Marilyn), Susan Gurujal (Harsha), Daniel Dietz (Lorrie) and Cindy Parr-Barrett (Kerry); grandchildren, Marie & Kristina Dietz, Josh Osterbur (Amanda), Megan Cline (Gary), Colin Osterbur (Katie), Caleb Gurujal (Katie), Matt Dietz, Kyle Dietz (Liz), Ashley Shelton (Sam), Lauren Parr (Michael Roulaine), Hillary Kobel (David), Lindsay Bott (Nick), Sarah Barrett (Mickey Meeker); great-grandchildren, Emma & Sophie Osterbur, Charlotte Cline, Grace, Bruce & Lane Dietz, Naomi, Sam & Liam Shelton, Kendyll & Karter Stewart & Thorin Bott, Maddox Meeker, and Theodore Kobel; and her sister Joann Dernulc.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Charlie, her parents, siblings and their spouses; Joe (Jane) Pitlik Jr, Elizabeth Pitlik, Mary (Ed) Dalbey, Esther (Bob) Rodman, Frank (Patricia) Pitlik, Julie (Joe) Trigalet, Irma (Bob) Porter, Helen (Jack) Gillum, & Bill (Kathleen) Pitlik.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026, at the Resurrection Cemetery Chapel in Danville, Illinois. Fr. Deusdedit Byomuhangi will be the officiant.

In memoriam, please make donations to The Lazarus Ministries, P.O. Box 224, Westville Illinois 61833.  The Lazarus Ministries is the project of her “adopted” son, Fr. Deusdedit Byomuhangi who is building a hospital in the rural region of Nyamasiizi Uganda.

Online condolences at www.rortvedtfuneralservices.com

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