Ann Fitzgerald Riazzi

Ann Fitzgerald Riazzi, 88, of Kettering, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 18, 2025. A beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister, she is survived by her seven sons, two daughters, 26 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, her sister, Ellen Mitchell, of Cincinnati, and brother James Fitzgerald and his wife Leslie, also of Cincinnati.

Ann was born in Dayton, OH, on May 6, 1937, attending Corpus Christi Catholic School and Juliene High School before heading to Notre Dame, IN for one year at St. Mary’s College. But she grew homesick for the family, friends, and Dayton community that she held so dear, and she made the decision to return home and attend the University of Dayton. There, she met Carmen Riazzi, a captain for the Flyers basketball team, and upon Ann’s graduation with a degree in education in 1959, the two were married—a union that would last for 66 years.

She was known to family and friends as the gentlest soul and the most patient, loving person they ever met. Her humor, playfulness, and empathy are forever woven into the DNA of her family alongside her pride in her Irish heritage. Ann had a singular ability to see the absolute best in every person and to show genuine interest in their lives, families, and accomplishments. She regularly volunteered her time for organizations such as the Saint Vincent DePaul Society, Meals On Wheels, and the Special Olympics. She loved to read, to listen to music, and to enjoy the occasional Jameson. (“But just a small one.”)

She was a natural-born caregiver and matriarch, a source of near-constant nurturing, reassurance, compassion, and kindness. She was the heart and soul of her family and someone whose influence is impossible to articulate.

Her love of and dedication to children was a lifelong theme. No one meant more to Ann than her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Until her final day, she would light up at the sight of them all, greeting everyone with a warm smile, a big hug, and—without fail to the youngest among the group—a genuine, loving, “Hi, sweetheart.”

As a mother of ten, she somehow made every child feel like they were her only focus. She poured every ounce of herself into her family, often sacrificing her own time and interests to do what she saw as her most important job. More than a mother, she was a protector, advisor, champion, confidant, and unwavering fan. Her belief in her children was absolute, her love for them infinite.

Nowhere was that more apparent than in the way that she and Carmen committed themselves to caring for their developmentally disabled daughter, Reenie. For 33 years, Reenie lived a life filled with happiness, beauty, joy, and experiences that she would have otherwise missed if not for the sacrifices of her devoted, adoring parents. Ann and Carmen took on their duty to Reenie with full hearts and zero complaints, giving of themselves in ways that showed their children what it means to truly love someone.

Ann and Carmen were proud, original charter members of St. Charles Borromeo parish in Kettering, there from its inception in 1962. In addition to serving as a place where they practiced their faith and educated nine children, it also became another example of Ann’s love of and commitment to children. Because, after dedicating so much of her life to raising her own kids, she returned to the University of Dayton, seeking to shape the lives of others by earning her recertification in education and updating her credentials. Upon completion of the program, she became a first grade teacher at St. Charles, making an undeniable impact on hundreds of other children in the parish community for nearly 15 years.

Nothing brought Ann more joy than being a tireless, wholehearted mother to her 10 kids and grandma to her grandchildren: Timothy (wife Barb; children Kevin, Brian, Mark and Philip); Maureen; John (wife Jill; children Abbigail, James, Carmen, Andrew and Peter), Patrick (wife Loretta; children Molly, Joseph, John and Nicholas); Kathleen Shope (husband Scott; children Marguerite and Michael); Michael; Matthew; Elizabeth Schaefer (husband Robert; children Jacob, Ann, Nathaniel and Dominic); Daniel (wife Erin; children Curtis, Ian, William and James); and Anthony (wife Margaret; children Henry, Grace and Rose).

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Carmen, daughter Maureen, mother Marguerite Cummins Fitzgerald, father James Leo Fitzgerald, sister Sister Agatha (Mary Jean) Fitzgerald, and brother-in-law Ned McCallum.

Ann will be remembered forever for the light that she brought and the love that she showed to so many who were lucky enough to know her. If a person’s time on earth is ultimately measured by the people they impact and the lives they shape, then no one has ever lived life more fully, more lovingly, and more completely than Ann Riazzi.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 26, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church (411 E 2nd St, Dayton, OH 45402) at 10:00 a.m., followed immediately by a burial at Calvary Cemetery. The family will welcome guests for a true Irish celebration of Ann’s life from 12–4 p.m. at The Dublin Pub.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann’s honor may be made to the Maureen “Reenie” Riazzi Fund at the Dayton Foundation:

https://www.daytonfoundation.org/donate-credit-card?Source=DX&ReturnFundId=3069&ReturnFundName=Riazzi_Fund