Mary (Carroll) Saultz

Mary Margaret Bridget “Kideen” (Carroll) Saultz died peacefully and attended by her family on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at the OSU James Cancer Center. Mary was born on June 30, 1947 in Columbus, Ohio to William J. and Rosaline G. (Nichols) Carroll. She was preceded in death by her brother, William Carroll, and her parents. She is survived by her husband, Robert A. Saultz Sr., whom she married March 27, 1970 in Columbus, Ohio; her children William N. “Shinny” Carroll, Shannon “Katie” Saultz, Patrick M. Saultz, and Joseph F. Saultz (Andrew R. Moss); stepson Robert "Bobby" Saultz (Georgia Davis); grandchildren Ashley R. Morrison, Katrina B. Saultz, Tiffany M. Saultz, Ariel K. Saultz, Brianna C. Saultz, and M. Damian Morrison; great-grandchildren Antonio P. DeMatteis, Cordell A. Washington, and Luna Cantlon; cousins Margaret “Peggy Ann” (Creasap) Burton and Michael G. Creasap; and close friends Melanie Norris, Jonathan Smith, Harold Brown, Ray Quillen, and Cory Washington.

Mary was a life-long resident of Italian Village in Columbus, Ohio and her proud Irish heritage and Catholic faith were her foundation. She had an exuberant and charismatic presence and was fiercely loyal and protective of her friends and family. Mary fed and administered to the sick and elderly of her parish and neighborhood and would shy away from taking credit. She was a long-time donor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and many children and the locally vulnerable would share meals and share tales at her crowded kitchen table. Mary loved all animals and an innumerable amount of feathered, scurrying, hopping, clawing, jumping, and pawing friends found their forever home within her house. She would play records from the 50s and 60s or dance to the radio when she was alone or thought no one was watching her during breezy Summer days. Mary had a whale-like hunger for reading almost anything in print, but had a special appetite for Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, and Suspense … often reading long into the night after seeing her family off to bed. She was a fan of Old Hollywood and loved watching movies and television with her family. Mary was artistic and creative, having a real talent for the written word – in fact, she would ghostwrite stories for her son’s writing assignments at Holy Name Elementary about the adventures of Cletus and Cleta the Spiders (sorry, Sister Marie). She was notably less gifted with keeping secrets, telling them so “quietly” that all the neighbors could overhear. Mary was infinitely curious and saw beauty, mystery, excitement, and possibility in everything she encountered. She was kind, and tender, and gentle, though wanting that no one saw her vulnerability. We will miss sharing your long walks, whether amongst the sweet-scented lilac and roses near your mother’s old home, the grocery store to enjoy their air-conditioning, or the antique stores and junk markets you frequented for hidden treasures. We will miss your ornery laugh and lopsided grin … your lemon-tart wit and your remarkably inappropriate sense of humor. Where you go, you also take the hearts of many who love you more than we could ever hope to express through meager words, even the walrus.

Calling hours for Mary will take place at Egan-Ryan, 403 E Broad St., Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, March 2, from 4 to 7 PM. The funeral service will take place at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 893 Hamlet St., Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, March 3, at 10 a.m., immediately followed by interment at St. Joseph Cemetery, 6440 S. High St., Lockbourne, Ohio.

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