Diane Distler Reitz

Diane Distler Reitz, 77, of Levittown, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026, at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Born in Philadelphia, she lived a life marked by compassion, strength, and deep commitment to those she loved and the causes she championed.

Diane spent more than two decades as a Registered Nurse in the operating room, caring for patients with skill and dedication. She continued her education, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, which allowed her to advance into healthcare leadership. After retiring, she became a certified personal trainer and Zumba instructor, inspiring others to lead healthier lives. Having faced heart disease herself, she became a passionate advocate for the American Heart Association, organizing and leading multiple Zumba-THON events to raise awareness and funds. She was also the co-founder, with her dear friend Captain David A. Christian, of the Victor Six Health and Fitness Organization, devoted to supporting the wellness of veterans, and she remained actively involved in its mission until shortly before her passing.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Ronald Reitz, and her two daughters, Cheryl Jean Reitz-Noe and Joan Marie Reitz-Hare, to whom she was a devoted and loving mother. She took special joy in her role as grandmother to her five granddaughters—Emma Joan Noe and Anne Marie Noe, daughters of Cheryl and her husband David Noe, and Raegan Diane Hare, Kassidy Dawn Hare, and Quinn Kathryn Hare, daughters of Joan and her husband Robert Hare—whom she affectionately called her “gaggle of girls.” Diane believed deeply in the importance of being a strong woman and raising strong women.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Harriet Distler; her brothers, John, Joseph, and James Distler; and her sister, Antoinette Hess. She is survived by her siblings Andrew Distler, Francis Distler, Theresa Culver, and Joanne Murt. Above all, Diane would wish to be remembered for the profound love she held for her family and the many lives she touched with her compassion, guidance, and generosity. Being a wife, mother, and grandmother was, in her eyes, the most important and cherished role she ever held.