Norma Ritter

Norma Marian Ritter, 78, of Guilderland, New York passed away on September 1, 2023, surrounded by her family. Norma (nee Eglash Woolf) was born on the 9th of June, 1945, in Matlock, England. She is predeceased by her parents Victor Woolf and Minnie Eglash Woolf; her sister Eileen Woolf; and her granddaughter Sarah Tzipporah Otter.

Norma grew up in the East End of London, England. She had a strong connection to her Jewish identity, and after graduating from school she spent a year living on a kibbutz in Israel. Norma loved working with children of all ages. During her long career as an educator, she was employed as a Youth Counselor, a Hebrew School Teacher, and a Youth Group Advisor.

Norma’s true passion was supporting and advocating for mothers and babies.  She was asked by Chemung County (NY) Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to create and implement a breastfeeding education program to support young mothers and their babies.  The program was so successful that counties all over New York State adopted the curriculum she helped create.

At the age of 50, after 20 years of volunteering as a La Leche League Leader, she started a new career as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).  In 2010, Norma went on to not only become one of the founding members of Breastfeeding USA, but also the author of the training manual for their Counselors.  Throughout her lifetime, Norma helped, supported, and empowered thousands of mothers to successfully breastfeed their children.

Norma is lovingly survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, Glenn Ritter, as well as her 3 children: Dan (Elizabeth Lear), and their children Zachariah Elijah and Ephraim Avdan; Abigail (Joe Otter), and their children Jonah Avigdor, Rachel Lucia, and Isaac Naftali; and Chana Maya (Jeff Shein) and their children Chava Rachel, Ami Yehuda, Kayla, and Ethan.   

Norma will be laid to rest at Congregation Gates of Heaven Cemetery, 2045 Watt St. in Schenectady, New York, at 1:00 pm on the 5th of September, 2023. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Protective Foundation in Glenville, NY; or Breastfeeding USA at breastfeedingusa.org

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