Ann Kehner

Ann Kehner, 88, of Massillon, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2025, surrounded by family at her home in Abbey Glen.

Born on July 9, 1937, in Lima, Ohio, to Inez and Bud Curtis, Ann grew up in Akron alongside her sister Mary, and later welcomed a younger brother, John. She and Mary shared a close bond throughout their childhood, creating memories that remained a joyful thread through her life.

Ann became a resident of Massillon in 1959, the same year she married her husband, Frank, who preceded her in death in May 2023. Together they built a life rich in friendship, community, and shared adventure over their 64 years of marriage. Square dancing was a favorite pastime in their early years, and family road trips took them across the United States each summer.

In their later years, Ann and Frank spent 20 wonderful winters as snowbirds in The Villages, Florida. Ann’s love of games, especially Bridge and Sequence, and her gift for bringing people together made her a beloved part of their Orange Blossom Hills community. She and Frank cherished their retirement years between Ohio and Florida, surrounded by friends and filled with laughter, activity, and connection.

A creative spirit, Ann was an avid scrapbooker and recently volunteered her talents at the Massillon Museum. In her final days, she expressed her wish to be reunited with Frank, who had promised to “save a place” for her. On the morning of her passing, the region’s first snowfall arrived, a gentle sign that her place was ready.

Ann attended the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, earning her teaching certificate, and later completed her bachelor’s degree at Malone College in Canton. She began her 30-year career with the Massillon City School District as a substitute teacher, later spending many fulfilling years at Gorrell and Bowers Elementary Schools. A gifted educator, she was especially known for inspiring curiosity and confidence in her fourth- and fifth-grade students. Her classrooms were places of encouragement and discovery, remembered fondly by generations of students and parents alike.

Ann is survived by her two children and their spouses, Kathy and Terry Feichter, and Tom and Kathy Kehner; her grandchildren, Brad Feichter, Matt and Nerivnea Feichter, Molly and Kayla Feichter, Stephen and Kristen Kehner, Emily Kehner, and Brian and Hayley Kehner; and her four great-grandsons, Colton Feichter, and Theo, Cam, and Patrick Kehner.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Paquelet Funeral Home in Massillon. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. at St. Barbara Catholic Church. Interment at Calvary Cemetery will be attended by immediate family only. A celebration of life with family and friends will follow from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Ann’s condo in Abbey Glen.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Aultman Hospice & Compassionate Care Center via the Aultman Foundation.