Mary Wright

In Loving Memory of Mary Frances Wright Wuerth

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, fashion design professor, runner, gardener, and friend

Mary Frances Wright, 80, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 27, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. A woman of endless creativity, warmth, and quiet determination, Mary leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and community.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Ralph "Jerry" Wright, and their four children: Patrick Wright (Betsy Barnes), James Wright, Lesley Marsh (Tim), and Geri Christine Walsh (Bob Brousseau). She was the proud grandmother of 14 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, as well as the loving caretaker of her mischievous kitten, Rhonda. She is also survived by two sisters and three brothers including Ruth Ann Wuerth, Lucille Tangel, Robert Wuerth (Nancy), Joe Paul Wuerth (Maria), Billy Wuerth, eight nieces and five nephews, and preceded in death by her brother Father James Wuerth, nephew Timothy Janes, and great nephew Michael Paul St. John.

Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Mary Frances was the fourth of seven children of Mary Ruth Wuerth Mackey and Edward Paul Wuerth, and carried her Kentucky roots with pride and grace. Mary was a graduate of Louisville's Most Blessed Sacrament (MBS) and Presentation Academy, Class of 1963.

She married Jerry in 1965 at MBS and had three children in concurrent years. They then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, with their new family, where they added their fourth child, and spent the next fifty years there (with small stints in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. & Westlake, CA). She and Jerry returned to Louisville, KY in 2020 to be closer to their extended family.

As Mary Frances' kids were leaving the nest, she decided to pursue her passion for fashion at the University of Cincinnati, where she earned a BFA in Fashion Design from the renowned DAAP program in 1991. Her talent and dedication later brought her back to the university, where she served as an adjunct professor from 2003 until 2015-mentoring and inspiring the next generation of fashion iconostas.

Mary Frances was a true trailblazer in more ways than one. She started her own fashion design line in the early 90's, aptly called the Wright Collections, focusing on pattern-making for women of all shapes and sizes. She even opened the first coffee roaster and cafe in Madeira, Ohio, affectionately named Coffee Please in 1994, which quickly became a beloved neighborhood hub for conversation, caffeine, and community.

In the early-to-mid 80's, she hosted the running group "Friends A Foot" for years. This group later evolved into the "Coffee Please Walkers & Runner Group" and is still going strong.

An avid runner, Mary completed seven marathons in seven different cities, each one a testament to her perseverance and adventurous spirit. She was also a gifted gardener, finding joy and peace in her backyard blooms, and a skilled pattern maker who proudly made her own clothes for over 40 years-each stitch sewn with intention and care. To this day, it's unclear the exact number of clothing pieces she lovingly designed, created, and produced.

Mary's life was a tapestry of creativity, movement, and generosity. She had a quiet confidence and a way of making people feel truly seen. She loved deeply, shared her opinion unapologetically, worked passionately, and lived with purpose. Her love, friendship, and dedication to her family and friends were second to none. In her last few years, she built another strong foundation of new friends in her Al-Anon group, which she cherished immensely.

A celebration of Mary Frances' life will be held on Thursday, May 8th at 10am, with a service at St. Frances of Rome (located at 2119 Payne St, Louisville, KY 40206), where she is a parishioner, followed by a gathering at the Clifton Center adjacent to the church. The family has requested in the spirit of how Mary Frances lived, to please wear SPRING COLORS to her celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Catholic Charities of Louisville at cclou.org, in honor of her boundless spirit, enduring legacy, and belief that we should always help those in need.

Mary Frances Wright will be missed deeply, remembered daily, and loved always.