Ruth Tinnirello

Ruth Tinnirello, age 88 passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Beloved wife of the late Sebastian. Loving mother of Anthony Tinnirello, Laura Mitchell (Rick), Carol Stelnicki (Lenny), Tim Tinnirello (Mary Elizabeth), Terri Beaton, Sandra Herman (Chris) and Greg Tinnirello (Teresa). Cherished grandmother of Andrea Meluch (Brian), Jordan Mitchell, Brent Mitchell, Lexie Stelnicki, Samantha Stelnicki, Allison Tinnirello, Erica Tinnirello, Jake Beaton, Emily Tegeder (P.J.), Jessica Herman, Amanda Tinnirello, Matthew Tinnirello and Mia Tinnirello. Devoted great grandmother of Dean, Lydia and Sophia.

Today we celebrate the incredible life of the woman who was, and always will be, the heart of our family.

She was the devoted wife of over fifty years to our father, Sebastian—our beloved “Base.” Through his long journey of illness, she remained by his side, caring for him with unwavering love, right to through the days of his passing, by his side. Their love was one of strength and commitment — Base adored her deeply, always finding ways to shower her with gifts on birthdays and Christmases. But the true gift was the life and family they built together.

She lived for her children and grandchildren—seven children, thirteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren who were all blessed to know the warmth of her touch, the sound of her laughter, and the comfort of her unwavering presence. She was the first to cradle every new baby in the family, never letting a single snuggle slip by. We’d joke that she was a “baby hog,” but the truth is, her arms were the safest place any of us could land.

She gave with all her heart—whether it was babysitting, buying clothes and gifts, or simply sitting at the kitchen table ready to listen. Sunday dinners became sacred rituals. She loved to cook, not just to nourish us, but to bring us together—over pots of simmering sauce, warm loaves of bread, and always something sweet at the end (which she’d never pass up!).

Though she worked many years as a payroll clerk, she somehow managed every detail of our household with the same quiet efficiency—meals, budgets, birthdays, Christmas mornings. And when she wasn’t working or giving her time, she was creating. Her hands were never still. Cakes crafted with care and adorned with roses; dresses sewn with delicate stitches—sometimes even for weddings; and blankets crocheted and quilted with love. Each grandchild was wrapped, quite literally, in her handiwork, christened in gowns she designed, held in blankets she made by hand.

She loved simply and fiercely. She was a homebody who cherished puzzles with the kids, long chats around the table, and sweet rides to get ice cream or watch the Christmas lights. And let us not forget her loyal companions—Candy, Buttons, and Tippy—her beloved dogs, who followed her faithfully, sensing as we all did that she was someone special.

And while the quilt of our lives may feel as if a piece has been taken from it today, we know that every stitch of it was sewn by her. We feel her in every Sunday meal, every laugh around the kitchen table, every handmade gift tucked away in a drawer.

Her legacy isn’t just the things she made or the meals she cooked—it’s in the way she made us feel. Loved. Safe. Home.

We will carry her with us, always. In our hearts. In our kitchens. In our stories. In every baby she once held who now holds her memory.

Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Grandma. We will love you forever. We will miss you always. But we will never, ever forget. 🕊️💗

—With eternal love, Your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the Ames Family Hospice House, 30080 Hospice Way, Westlake, Ohio 44145.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday June 17, 2025 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Parma, Ohio at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday 4 - 7 PM at THE A. RIPEPI AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY ROAD, MIDDLEBURGH HEIGHTS, OHIO 44130 (WEST of I-71)