Joan J. (Spitz) Rieder

Joan Josephine (Spitz) Rieder, age 89, transitioned into her new life on Sunday, December 7, 2025. She is survived by her loving family, daughter Jill (Andy) McNamara of Crown Point; grandsons Christopher Camisa of Lowell, Nicholas Camisa (Lauren Miller) of Westmont, IL and granddaughter, Lynn Camisa of Crown Point; one sister, Mary Glowinski of Indianapolis and brother, Jim (Vicki) Spitz of Schererville; sister-in-law, Dolores Spitz of Hudson, WI.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew Rieder, parents, Joseph and Mary Spitz; brothers Joseph and Richard (Dick) Spitz, sister Ruth Schaller; brothers-in-law Donald Glowinski and Mike Schaller; sister-in-law, Joann Spitz.

Joan was born in her parent’s home and grew up loving, serving and volunteering time and talents to help her family, friends, community and St. Mary Catholic Church.  Her closes friends called her “Spittie or Church Lady,” but many others who knew her would describe her as “a woman who wore many hats.”

After almost a lifetime of helping friends and family members with health complications, Joan attended Purdue University Calumet and obtained her Licensed Practical Nurse degree.  After graduation she worked at St. Mary Medical Center for 25 years in the Intermediate Intensive Care Unit.  After her retirement, Joan and Andy pursued their dream of owning a summer cottage somewhere.  That somewhere was along the Tippecanoe River in Buffalo, IN.

Until Joan moved from Griffith in 2015, she was known at the “funeral luncheon” contact person for providing free funeral luncheons for St. Mary parishioners.  She organized the first Sunday Chicken Dinner during St. Mary’s Western Days Festival and was active in the parish’s Altar and Rosary Society. She also served as a Faith Formation teacher (CCD) for children and with the RCIA program for those expressing an interest in joining the Catholic faith.  She also participated in the Christ Renews His Parish retreat. During the time Jill was attending St. Mary School, she coached the girl’ volleyball team.

For anyone familiar with Griffith Girls Softball League in the late 1960’s, Joan opened the first concession stand.  With her husband, Andy, they both became involved with coaching girls’ softball.

The family would like to express a special thank you to the nursing staff of Aviva Valparaiso Memory Care Unit and Dunes Hospice of Valparaiso for the care of Joan.

A celebration of Joan’s Life will be on Friday, December 19th from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. at White Funeral Home, 921 W. 45th Avenue, Griffith, IN. A service conducted by the Nursing Honor Guard is scheduled to commence at 6:00 PM, followed by a Rosary Prayer Service.  Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 20th from 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. at White Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated by Reverend Theodore Mens at 12:00 Noon at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, located at 525 N. Broad St., Griffith, IN. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Joan’s name to Miscarriage, Mothers and Others, Inc. (P.O. Box 608, Crown Point, IN 46307).

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