Mary Esther Burget Zittle, 83, of Statesville, N.C., went to be with the Lord on August 3, 2025. Born December 8, 1941 in Tyrone, Pa., she was the daughter of the late George Elvin and Hilda Williams Burget.
She was a homemaker who dedicated herself to raising her family in a Christian home. Mary faithfully taught children’s Sunday School classes for many years and loved serving others. She and her husband spent most of their lives in Reisterstown, Md., serving in several different churches there. After moving to North Carolina in 2019, she was a member of South River Baptist Church in Statesville. Mary enjoyed flower gardening, particularly day lilies and daisies.
She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Ridgely Thomas Zittle; a daughter, Robin D. Zittle of Hampstead, Md., and her long-time companion, Jeffrey Gallina; two sons, Steven T. Zittle and his wife Amanda of Taylorsville, N.C., and Timothy G. Zittle and his wife Jennifer of Belize; seventeen grandchildren, Kaitlyn M. Zittle, Dr. Timothy J. Zittle, Saren K. Bailey, Braden C. Zittle and his wife Gabrielle, Abigail M. Eaton and her husband Merritt, E. Grace Zittle, Emma N. Lloyd and her husband Nick, Isabella L. Ortiz and her husband Nicholas, Trevor D. Zittle, Braden T. Zittle, Nataleigh E. Zittle, Jacob W. Carson, Joshua K. Zittle, Micah D. Zittle, Caleb M. Zittle, Anna Joy Zittle, and Joshua E. Carson; twele great-grandchildren, Jonathan Lekki, Colton, Mason, Landon, Ryleigh, and Cassie Bailey, Lucas, Felicity, and Penelope Zittle, Madilyn Eton, Harper Lloyd, and Gideon Ortiz; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Janet Burget and Agnes Richter; a brother, George M. Burget; and two grandsons, Joel Thomas Zittle and Jacob Todd Zittle.
The family would like to sincerely thank the staff of Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, especially Nina Brewster and Alexis Settle for all the love and care they gave us in this difficult time.
Visitation will be on Friday, August 8, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home. With a second visitation to take place on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 2 to 2:50 p.m. at South River Baptist Church, 2659 S. Chipley Ford Road, Statesville, N.C., with Dr. Chris Thompson officiating. Following the visitation, a service celebrating Mary’s life will be held at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary of South River Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Those desiring may make memorial contributions to 3D Friends, 2650 FM 407 E. STE 145-116, Bartonville, TX 76226-7014, or at www.3DFriendsBZ.org/giving.
Words of comfort and memories may be shared at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the care of the Zittle family.