Carolynn I Dietz

BOARDMAN — Carolynn Irene Beard Dietz passed away peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, surrounded by family.

Born Feb. 22, 1937, in Muskegon, Michigan, she was the youngest of five children to Donald Orson and Irene Murphy Beard. She was raised in North Muskegon, Michigan, and after graduating from high school, she attended Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio (now part of Miami University). She then went to New York City to study interior design, where she stumbled upon the love of her life, Dr. George H. Dietz, while working at The New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, as a receptionist. On Feb. 7, 1959, she married George at St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan, New York. 

     They moved from New York City in 1962, to Youngstown (which “coincidentally” is equidistant from Muskegon, Michigan, and New York City), where George established his plastic surgery practice. They had seven children, and while her husband assumed his busy practice, Carolynn had the daunting task of raising her two daughters (the oldest and youngest of the group) and five rambunctious sons, in the middle (each one year apart).She was a remarkable homemaker and somehow always managed to know the whereabouts of each child at every moment — whether during their rearing years, throughout high school and college, and then during their adulthood … all before GPS and tracking was a thing. She was always known to laugh and have a contagious smile on her face, and thoroughly enjoyed entertaining, especially hosting those notorious Fourth of July parties, and even staying up late with her children and their friends — everyone always hung out at the Dietz house.

      Somehow, Carolynn also managed to be very active in the community. She volunteered for decades at South Side Medical Center’s gift shop, well baby clinic and family waiting room, and was involved in the American Lung Association’s Christmas Seal Project, American Heart Association and Cancer Society Fund Drives, Easterseal Society and numerous school functions for her kids. She also was very active with the women’s auxiliaries to the Mahoning County, State of Ohio, and American Medical Associations, specifically serving in virtually every officer capacity with the Mahoning County Medical Society Women’s Auxiliary, including its president in 1970-71. She was also an active member of the St. Elizabeth Hospital Junior Guild, The Junior League of Youngstown, Youngstown Symphony Society, Youngstown Symphony Guild, Safety Council of Greater Youngstown, Youngstown Hospital Guild and Women’s Faculty Club of the Northeast Ohio University College of Medicine. She was additionally a member of various social organizations, including the Ohio Historical Society, Friends of Old Sturbridge Village, The Chesterton Club, Butler Institute of American Art, Cotillion Club, Youngstown Club, Youngstown Country Club, Forest Glen Homeowners Association, Glen Gardeners Garden Club and National Trust for Historic Preservation.

      Carolynn was a very devout Catholic and was also a member of St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church. She thoroughly enjoyed traveling with her husband, which included visits to every state in the U.S., a trip around the world to celebrate their 25th anniversary, various countries on five continents and yearly trips to their favorite city, London. On Christmas Day in 2005, she lost her travel buddy, the love of her life, after more than 45 years of marriage.

     She is survived by her two daughters, Susan (Evan) Saunders and Carrie Dietz, both of Columbus; four sons, George Dietz Jr. of Boardman, Dr. Andrew (Betsy) Dietz of Marlton, New Jersey, Attorney James (Denise) Dietz of Canfield and Christopher (Deana) Dietz of Columbus; and four grandchildren, James Dietz Jr., Luke Dietz, Fiona Carolynn Dietz and Alexander Dietz. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Peter Beard Dietz; her brother, Russell Beard; sisters, Donna Ruud, Bethelee Kordecki and Patricia Kroes; and brother-in-law, Robert Dietz. While she will be so deeply missed, all who knew her will cherish those tremendous memories of Carolynn’s vibrant and infectious smile, and her trademark quip — “Oh dear!”

     The Dietz family is extremely grateful for the wonderful care that their mother received during her last days at Friendship Village in Dublin, Ohio, and are especially thankful for the round-the-clock hospice care provided by National Church Residences.

      Friends may call 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct 26, 2025, at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Canfield Chapel, 3701 Starr Centre Drive. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at St. Dominic Church, 77 E. Lucius Ave., Youngstown.

      In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any contribution be made to National Church Residences Hospice, 681 E. Third St., Waverly, OH 45690 or St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church in Youngstown, in Carolynn’s memory.

      This obituary can be viewed and condolences sent to www.higgins-reardon.com.