Wilovene Rhoads

It is with both sadness and a sense of celebration that we announce the passing of Wilovene F. Rhoads, (nee: Wright) a cherished mother and grandmother, talented crochet enthusiast, and lover of jigsaw puzzles, who left us peacefully on July 11, 2025, at the age of 99. Born on September 11, 1925, in Minerva, Ohio, Wilovene lived a life filled with love, creativity, and joy, making her home in Canton, Ohio.

Wilovene dedicated many years to her career as a housekeeper at HOF Fitness Center, where her warm smile and caring spirit brightened the days of all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents Earl and Grace Wright, husband William Rhoads, daughter Geraldine Rhoads, siblings Clarence, Harold, Rena and Robert. She is survived by her son Richard Rhoads (Luann), daughter Doris Santangelo (Don), grandchildren Amy Stertzbach (Andrew), Kelly Wackerly (Jason), Keri Shaffer, Jason Santangelo, Sean Santangelo (Kimberly), Jesse Rhoads (Ashley), Nathan Rhoads (Jessica), 14 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

A celebration of Wilovene’s incredible life will take place on July 15, 2025, starting at 10:00 AM, with calling hours at Reed Funeral Home CANTON Chapel 705 Raff Road SW Canton, OH 44710. The funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM, where we will share stories, laughter, and memories that reflect the vibrant spirit of this wonderful woman. Her journey will conclude with a burial at 2:30 PM at the Evergreen Memorial Gardens, located at 2698 Broadway Ave. NE, Louisville, OH 44641.

We invite all who knew and loved Wilovene to join us in honoring her life, reminiscing about her beautiful creations in crochet, her cunning skills with jigsaw puzzles, and the boundless love she had for her family. Let us gather together to celebrate a remarkable life well-lived.