Carol J. Fischer

On September 8, 1945 in Evansville, Indiana, Carol Jean Pepper entered this world. Born to Evilda (Baehl) and Marvin Pepper, she was the eldest of three sisters. With both her parents coming from large German Catholic families in nearby farming communities, Carol had fond memories surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins — and chickens that would peck at her until they were fed. Time on her grandparents’ farms formed a lifelong love of cards (she was a shark until the end), cooking (she learned her renowned skills in the kitchen by her Grandma Baehl’s side), all animals - even those pecking ones, and a very long chores list, much to her future sons’ dismay.

Back in the city at her parents’ house on First Avenue, music and dancing filled the air after Mother and Daddy’s factory shifts were finished. A family trip to the dance hall was never out of the question. Carol recalls how she and her sisters showed her mom how to do the twist with a towel much to her dad’s shock. It was also on First Avenue where Carol discovered a world away from family where she could retreat to all on her own: The Willard Public Library. It was here that she began a deep passion for reading and the power of the written word, something she carried with her for the rest of her life.

During high school, the family moved out to Darmstadt, Indiana. A socially active honors student at Rex Mundi (Class of 1963), Carol was involved in clubs as varied as drama, business, debate and bowling, and it was through her business awards that she began her career working as a secretary for accountants upon graduation. It was on a vacation from work with some of her girlfriends when, by a pool in Ft. Lauderdale, this social Indiana girl met a shy Ohio guy by the name of Tom Fischer. After constant letter correspondence and a couple years of dating and long drives between Evansville and Cincinnati, Tom and Carol married on September 16, 1967 at St. James Catholic Church in Haubstadt, Indiana.

After a honeymoon to Montreal and Niagara Falls, Carol moved with Tom to Mt. Washington on the East Side of Cincinnati. She continued her accounting career for several years, ultimately working at the Internal Revenue Service in Cincinnati, where she served as executive secretary to the director of audits before turning her focus to raising her family. And what a family she raised!

Carol and Tom built their home down a rocky driveway next to Turpin Hills, and it was full of life. With four exuberant and active sons always up to something, Carol managed to wrangle them off to school, St. John Fisher Church (where she served for many years as a lector), soccer and other extracurriculars, and seemingly monthly trips to the ER with one of her sons attempting something that once again required stitches or a cast. She did this all the while helping her kids with homework and ensuring the whole family was together for those delicious meals, card, game and movie nights — and that she and Tom still got their dancing dates and golf outings in. And, when all was finally quiet on the Fischer front late at night, you could peek from the stairs to see Carol sitting in her favorite armchair reading a book.

Carol believed that education was fundamental to whatever path her sons decided to take, and her involvement in reading groups, PTA and other organizations at Newtown, Mercer and St. Ursula Villa grade schools made that evident. And, due to her fierce advocacy for her sons and her superpower of talking anyone into anything she wanted (sometimes through valid points, other times through sustained attrition), Carol was instrumental in the creation of support systems and programs that exist today for students with diverse learning needs at St. Xavier High School.

Once her sons left home to pursue their dreams, Carol devoted more time creating an incredible garden, reading, and spending time with grandchildren and Tom. Carol loved Tom with all her heart. They were married for 51 years, so when he died suddenly in 2019, it was very hard. Carol moved from Cincinnati to Columbus, Ohio to begin a final chapter closer to her sons and their families. Weekly rituals of card and dinner nights began again, and stories that had been recounted countless times were told once more. Her recollection and memory was renowned, and that ability to turn anything she saw, heard and touched into a story everyone knew by heart — prompting an equal measure of groans, laughter, and affection — will be sorely missed.

In the last couple years of declining health, Carol continued her love of gardening, reading, card playing, spending time with her family, as well as the tradition of having her sons do endless chores for her. She felt so lucky to have one last beach trip and adventure, a place that brought her so much joy from the time she met Tom throughout the rest of her life. She was never more at peace than sitting in a beach chair with a book in one hand and glass of Pinot Grigio in the other as her children and eventually grandchildren played in the surf in front of her.

Carol spent several months in the hospital before finally coming home to die where her sons cared for her with the help of hospice. It gave her so much peace to be visited by her sons, grandchildren, family and friends and to be reunited with her dog Hazel. Days were spent watching her favorite movies and listening to her excitement at telling another story, even when she couldn’t find the words. And although this Indiana girl switched her allegiance from IU to OSU upon moving to Ohio, she still rooted for the Hoosiers. They won the Big Ten the year she was born, once more the year she was married, and this huge college football fan was elated to witness them win the National Championship. A little over a week later, surrounded by her sons, Carol passed away on January 27th, 2026.

Carol is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Tom. She was a devoted mother to Eric (Christina), Jason (Paula), Sean and Ryan Fischer, grandmother to Jack, Piper, Taelor, Tori, Kimee, and Nathan. She is survived by her sisters Donna Kissel and Marcia Owens, nieces, nephews, and many friends. She was loved and cherished, and she will be deeply missed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Fisher Church, 3227 Church Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, with a celebration-of-life luncheon to follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to Reading Is Fundamental-- https://www.rif.org/. RIF is a children's literacy nonprofit focused on providing children with access to books to choose from and keep in “book deserts,” which research shows significantly increases a child's motivation to read. It would mean so much to her that another child found a pathway to a lifelong love of reading, just as she did.

It gives her family great comfort that she will no longer suffer and be reunited with Tom and her parents. We know you’re filling them in on everything they’ve missed. Until we meet again, Mom!