Obituary of Mary Jeannette Ramirez

Mary Jeannette Ramirez was born July 21, 1948 in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the first daughter of Samuel Popov and Kathleen Callahan. She graduated from Seton High School in 1966 and went on to a Bachelor of Science at the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Arts at Antioch University. A true intellectual, Jeannette was a member of the Mensa high IQ society and enjoyed learning throughout her life. She listened to lectures from the Learning Company while caring for her five children, cooking gourmet meals, and decorating her beautiful, historic home, the Tangeman House in the Cincinnati suburb of Wyoming, Ohio. A striking beauty with an interest in medicine, Jeannette became acquainted with her future husband, neurosurgeon Dr. Rafael Ramirez, as a candy striper at Cincinnati’s Good Samaritan hospital. The two formed a union that would last 55 years. She balanced her love of family with a desire for professional fulfillment by becoming president of the auxiliary for both Providence and Drake hospitals. In addition to her studies, she pursued a career in writing that included two non-fiction books and the co-founding of a successful writing collective, Monday Morning Writer’s Group, which is still active today. Jeannette is survived by her loving husband, Rafael, of Kensington, Md., and five children: Bryant (Dawn Simonds) of Newport News, Va.; Carlos (Kay Kheungkham Vongsakhamphouy) of Wyoming, Ohio; Alexander (Yvette Neirouz) of Amberley Village, Ohio; Catherine (Michael Hussey), of Kensington, Md.; and Gina (David Burdo) of Spring Lake, Mich.; grandchildren Sophia, Liliana, Cassiel, Daniel, Elisa Hussey, Samuel, Thomas, Ana, George Henry Hussey, Ethan Burdo and Emma Burdo; siblings Charles Popov, Carol Perry, Anthony Popov and Michael Popov; and Molly, Maya and Mia Vongsakhamphouy. A visitation will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Garrett Park, Md. at 10 a.m. Friday, December 30, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Arrangements are by Rapp Funeral Services. Donations can be made to Holy Cross Catholic Church.