Constance “Connie” M Cole-Ritch

Constance “Connie” M Cole-Ritch, 83, of Simi Valley CA, passed away suddenly on March 22, 2026, surrounded by her three adult children. Connie, the oldest of 6 children, was born in Aurora IL on February 26, 1943 to Richard W and Dorothy J (Schiltz) Hines. The family moved to Southern California when Connie was 16. She attended Canoga Park High School, graduating in 1961. She married James “Jim” R Cole in January of 1962. The family began in 1963 with the arrival of Dorothy “Dodie” J Cole, followed by Debra M Cole in 1964 and James R Cole, Jr in 1966. As the family grew, they moved from an apartment in Canoga Park to a home in Simi Valley. Connie lived the rest of her life in Simi Valley, other than a couple years in San Jose CA. Connie worked in the electronics industry once her kids were in school, and then later had a more than 20 year Office Manager job in a local telescope company. Connie’s husband, Jim died in 2004, after a very lengthy illness. In November 2011, Connie married another wonderful man. She met Tyler Ritch at St Peter Claver Catholic Church in Simi Valley. This union blended two families. Mom became very active in the Church and loved being an Extraordinary Minister, distributing Holy Communion during Mass and to the infirmed, as needed. She assisted with the Christmas Boutique and Bingo, but her passion was for the Bethany’s at St Peter Claver. She felt she could give back best when helping relieve some of the stress people felt during the loss of a loved one, as she knew so well. The friendships that developed made her very happy and fulfilled.

Connie is survived by her children: Dorothy Cole Winstead (Scott), Debra Lahren Shell, James Riley Cole, Jr; Michelle Ritch Marnoch (Eric), Theresa Ritch Hofstatter (Eric); grandchildren: Joseph Michael Lahren (Annie), Sarah Constance Winstead, Riley Scott Winstead (Emily), Alec Marnoch, Gillian Marnoch, Rory Hofstatter (Brooke), Kyle Hofstatter (Molly), Josh Hofstatter; and 6 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Patricia Carley (Alan), brother, Daniel Hines (Denise), brother-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Adams, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard W and Dorothy Hines, her first husband, James R Cole, her second husband, Tyler Ritch; sisters, Joanne Benegas, and Karen Adams, brother Mike Hines.

A closed casket visitation will be held on Thurs, Apr 9 from 5-8:30 at Rose Family Funeral Home in Simi Valley CA. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, April 10 at 10:00 am at St Peter Claver Catholic Church in Simi Valley CA, followed by a graveside service at Assumption Cemetery in Simi Valley, with a Bethany back at the church hall immediately following.