Mary Ann Wetzler

Mary Ann Wetzler, beloved mother, grandmother, wife, and friend, passed away peacefully on June 5th at the age of 89. A woman of extraordinary resilience, intelligence, and quiet wit, Mary Ann built a life rooted in compassion, integrity, and fierce independence.

She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and quickly distinguished herself academically, skipping a grade in elementary school and later earning a scholarship to Oberlin College. She completed her undergraduate and master’s degree in English at Case Western Reserve University, balancing her studies with part-time work and an early career as a junior high teacher. Later in life, she earned a graduate degree in social work and went on to teach in the social work school at Case Western Reserve and at Ursuline College. She also led numerous social work seminars throughout her career. In addition to teaching, she worked for many years at Lutheran Medical Center, providing compassionate support to others during their most vulnerable times.

Mary Ann married Tom Wetzler in 1958. Their marriage lasted 27 years until Tom’s passing and was built on shared values, mutual respect, and a deep commitment to their daughters Susan and Karin. Together they created a home filled with books, music, conversation, and travel, taking their children across Japan, Europe, and beyond.

For the last 34 years she was married to Richard Roznovsky, a devoted partner whose presence brought love and steadiness to her later life. Mary Ann espoused the wisdom of marrying your best friend, someone you laugh with. She and Richard had many adventures, including owning a bookstore, basement dances, and becoming later-in-life gym rats. Both Richard and Tom loved Mary Ann deeply, and her two long-lasting, meaningful relationships were a testament to her strength of heart and spirit.

To her nuclear family, Mary Ann was not only a touchstone, but a cycle-breaker. She decided that painful generational patterns would “stop with me,” and she followed through. She created a family legacy grounded in emotional honesty, fairness, and care. Her children and grandchildren are products of that legacy: connected, thoughtful, and deeply decent people.

Mary Ann expressed her love through presence and practicality. She was a devoted listener and counselor, a sender of perfectly timed cards and care packages, and someone who always showed up for the big moments. Birthday cards always included a request for half of her gift to be invested, and occasionally even with a newspaper clipping about how to do so wisely. But her pragmatism didn’t come at the cost of lightheartedness. She could be delightfully quirky, and once turned a Mother's Day gift of composting worms into an ongoing holiday tradition, much to her amusement and her family's delight. She brought that same warmth and humor to her role as the gracious hostess of family celebrations, often dancing and laughing at the center of it all.

She was known for her clarity of thought, her love of conversation, and her ability to say the hard thing with kindness or with just enough bluntness to make you laugh. Mary Ann was wise, often deeply spiritual, and unafraid to tell the truth. She was a steady presence in times of struggle, the person many turned to when life felt confusing or painful. Her advice was always thoughtful and direct. She had little patience for self-pity, but endless space for growth. She was deeply organized, sharply insightful, and full of conviction. She made those around her feel seen and safe and sometimes, when needed, gently challenged. She was never fake, never performative, and never anything but herself. And for her family, she was our grand matriarch: strong, grounded, loving, and real.

We are so grateful for all the time we’ve had with Mary Ann, and cherish our memories of her. If you are able and willing to share any memories of your own, big or small, the stories of those moments are gifts we will treasure endlessly.

Mary Ann Wetzler (nee Turek), the beloved wife of Richard J. Roznovsky and the late Thomas L. Wetzler; the dear mother of Karin M. Wetzler (John Bacon) of Cincinnati, OH and Susan J. Wetzler-Powell (Thomas R. Powell) of Pittsburgh, PA; dear grandmother of Lillian M. Bacon (Taylor S. Jackson); Koehler R.W. Stoneman-Powell (Michael Stoneman-Powell); Ballard T.W. Powell and Roselyn G. Bacon.

The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

A service or gathering may be announced at a later date.