Aug. 7, 1941 March 21, 2026

It is with deep sorrow that the family of Jeanette M. Belz announce her passing on March 21, 2026, at 84 years of age. A 56-year resident of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, she spent the last 5 years of her life in Boerne, TX at Morningside Ministries Menger Springs community.

She is survived by her children, Debbie Belz and Ret. Col. David (Jen) Belz, grandchildren Leslie (fiancé Lucas Zarzecki) Drueke, Ellin “Maddie” (Austin) Wilt, Jack Drueke, Julia (fiancé Chase Blackstone) Belz, and Kate Drueke, great grandchildren Philip Wilt and John David Wilt. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Robert “Bob” Belz, parents Frank Riggio and Maria Concetta “Jean” Riggio, and brother Joseph Riggio.

Jeanette was born in Paterson, NJ and raised in Fair Lawn, NJ. Throughout her youth she became an accomplished pianist, participated in music, choir, writing, the arts and basketball. She graduated from St Luke’s High School in Ho Ho Kus, NJ and in 1963 earned a BS in Elementary Education from Seton Hall University. Her involvement in college earned her the title of Queen of SHU Paterson Campus. She met Bob at St. Catharine’s Catholic Church Young Adult Club in Glen Rock, NJ. They married on July 4th, 1964, moved to Doylestown, PA and quickly immersed themselves in their new hometown and Catholic church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

She taught for two years before having children and resumed after her children were school age. At OLMC school, she developed and taught a math program for four years to help struggling students, and then a gifted program for several years before returning to the classroom where she taught 14 years at OLMC and then 10 years at Butler Elementary in Chalfont, PA. She retired from teaching in 2001 after touching the lives of hundreds of students with her knowledge, passion for learning and creativity. She was the ultimate teacher – first one there in the morning, last one to leave, using her free time for schoolwork, and always researching new methods to engage her students.

Involvement in her community was important to her. After settling in Doylestown, she joined the Junior Women’s Club and the local March of Dimes. Later in life she spent 5 years as the co-chairman of the Fibromyalgia Support Group at Doylestown Hospital inviting speakers to educate and providing support for those with the ailment, including herself. Upon becoming a resident at Menger Springs, she joined a chimes group, started a writer’s workshop, genealogy club, and a walker’s club named the Roller Girls, and made many new friends.

In her church community, as a 60-year member of the Ladies of Mount Carmel, she supported the pastor and parish community initiating, organizing and chairing countless committees and events such as the Sunday Nursery program, card parties, fashion shows, communion breakfasts, retreats as well as writing publicity, committee manuals, by-laws and parliamentarian procedures. In 1968, she and Bob became the adult advisors of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) at OLMC, running the school’s sports program as well as the high school activity program. They also served as regional directors for sports and student programs, and on the Archdiocesan Department of Youth Activities board. Their long tenure of service was honored multiple times. One of her proudest moments was in 1978 when OLMC was named the #1 CYO program in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Jeanette had a penchant for learning – about people and the world. She never met a stranger - genuinely interested in hearing the stories of every person that crossed her path. She had a deep appreciation for the arts: attending all genres of musical concerts, theater productions, museums, art, historical collections, sports, dance and was a voracious reader of all types of literature. She loved to entertain and was always the ‘hostess with the mostest’. She enjoyed fine food, a glass of chardonnay, dessert, traveling the world, her Italian heritage, keeping her Christmas tree up year-round, doing little things to brighten someone’s day, and, of course, shopping.

Most importantly, Jeanette and Bob shared a 56-year marriage full of love, faith and family. She will be remembered as a caring, supportive, beloved mother and Grammy who treasured every moment spent with her children and grandchildren whom she loved dearly and was most proud.

Texas friends may celebrate her life at a service on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. at Morningside Ministries- Menger House, 1100 Grand Blvd., Boerne.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held at a later date in Doylestown, PA In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jeanette’s honor to the Ladies of Mount Carmel, in care of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church, 235 East State St, Doylestown PA 18901.

To view a video of Jeanette’s life and to leave online condolences, please visit www.ebensberger- fisher.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ebensberger Fisher Funeral Home.

— PAID OBITUARY —