Lisa Ritchie

Lisa – A legacy of Love, Hope and Perseverance

Our loving Lisa Ann Ritchie went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 19th, 2026. In heaven she rests in eternal peace free from any worry and free from all pain. Completely healed and made new. After fighting an arduous heart condition requiring open heart surgery at a tender age of 41 years old, she survived and continued to live on for 20 additional years which she spent loving her family well and chasing her dreams. She was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer and would ultimately be facing treatments that would once again place her fragile body through more than one person should have to face in one lifetime. She was ready to fight but God In his great mercy and grace knew it was time to call her home, and He Received her with open arms.

To know Lisa was to love Lisa. She had this remarkable ability to see the best in people. Her love was ever present. It was always steady, without merit. Her calm presence was universally soothing. To describe Lisa in words seems an impossible task because more than words she was a feeling. She was the felt sense of comfort, the warm hug one needs in despair. She was welcoming, accepting and gentle in her existence. But as much as she was gentle, she was persistent. She became the pillar of success behind every project she poured her heart into, in particular in her leadership role as Cardiac Office Manager. Her personal experience with cardiology made her relatable to every patient. She was an incredible mentor and was fiercely dedicated to her family, friends and those she worked beside for so many years. She will be deeply missed by all who loved her and remembered for her tenacity, grit and kindness.

Lisa was born on May 28, 1962 to “Jerry and Liz” King. She was married to the love of her life Joel Thomas Ritchie for 44 years. She was blessed with a beautiful Daughter Jenny Rylander, son in law, Aaron Rylander and three precious granddaughters, Siara, Josephine and Addasyn. She had a special niece Leah Ditta, nephew in law Matthew Ditta and her “best buddy” great nephew, James Matthew Ditta, and her beloved Mother-in-Law, Betty Ritchie, along with numerous other nieces, nephews and extended family whom she loved so dearly. She was treasured by her Daddy, Nanny, Papa, sister Terri and Father-in-Law, Troy Ritchie Sr. who are with her in Jesus’s Arms.

Lisa graduated from Seguin High School and received her Respiratory Therapy License from Texas State University. Lisa persistently worked to improve herself. She was pursuing a Medical Administration Degree from Liberty University. She was known for her dedication to her career in the medical field and serving physicians and patients in our community. She started her career working in a dental office and quickly moved into the hospital where she worked many years as a Respiratory Therapist. In 2001, she met Dr. Stephen Carey and began working at his Cardiology clinic across from the former Mckenna Memorial Hospital, together the two of them forged a special working friendship that would propel the clinic into one of the most thriving practices in the New Braunfels area. Together they faced many obstacles, re-starting a new practice twice but Lisa was loyal to her craft and made certain patients always had access to quality cardiac care. She ensured that medical staff, who became family, had a safe and nurturing working environment. After Dr.Carey’s Retirement, Dr. Denisse Sangha began her own practice, “Whole Cardiac Wellness”. She recruited Lisa to do the job she did best and took the lead on helping to open this new Cardiology Clinic. The two formed a close bond, a friendship that was born years before in Dr. Carey’s Clinic on Common Street and grew to be the kind of friendship and work partnership one can only hope for in this lifetime. Together, they were dedicated to providing the community of New Braunfels a wholeness approach to Cardiac Care and the practice opened on March 18, 2025. The practice flourished with Lisa present, a dream and a God answered prayer she was able to witness before her passing. Lisa never gave up on those she loved even when it meant taking a risk to start over time and time again.

Lisa lived most of her life in Lake McQueeney where she had many treasured memories as a child and where she and Joel raised their daughter Jenny. Lisa had a deep faith in Jesus, and sought Him daily in her life. She relentlessly prayed for her family and friends. She had the great hope and she shared it with others, showing the love of Christ in everything she did. More recently, Lisa and Joel, along with their daughter Jenny and granddaughter Siara moved to property in Canyon Lake where they were transforming their homestead into their forever home. A few years later Jenny married Aaron they had the newest Joy of her life, her granddaughter, Josephine, born in 2025. Lisa and Joel loved riding on their Polaris Ranger, working on projects around the house, ( Lisa especially loved gardening), loving on their puppy Star and most of all being Grandma and Papa to their grandchildren. And now, we rest in the blessed assurance that we will see our beloved Lisa again, that this life is not the end but the beginning. Her sweet soul LIVES in paradise, she has seen the many rooms and walks with Jesus on streets of Gold. So do not be sad, but be glad for she has heard the words we all hope to hear one day “ Well done good and faithful servant.”

1 Thesalonians 4:13-25 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.