Theresa A Dietz

Theresa Ann Dietz, age 81, of Bradenton, Florida, and formerly of Midvale, died Thursday, January 8, 2026, in Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital at Dover following a period of declining health.

Born in Union Hospital at Dover on December 12, 1944, Terry was a daughter of the late Henry and Genevieve “Jenny” Pimpedly Valentine.

She was a 1962 graduate of St. Joseph High School at Dover and furthered her education in Columbus by attending beauty college. For a period of time, she worked for Fran’s Beauty Shop at Dover and later worked for Miracle Adhesive. She also served as a manager for Rite Aid, Ponderosa, and the former Shell, now Speedway gas station on the West end of New Philadelphia. Many also remember her as a Tupperware saleswoman.

Among her many careers, Terry’s greatest pride and joy was working in her family’s East of Chicago pizza business. Beginning in 2006 and continuing for as long as she was able, she was deeply involved in every aspect of daily operations. Even after retirement, she remained closely connected to the business, always taking a genuine interest in how it was doing and inquiring about their regular customers.

Terry’s biggest passion in life was her family. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for them, and truly enjoyed the countless family trips to Disney and vacations with her sister’s family to the Outer Banks. She was a roller coaster enthusiast who enjoyed card games, a good round of bingo, spending time with her classmates, and making new friends in Florida after relocating to Bradenton, where she has enjoyed retirement with her husband for the last three years. Of course, spoiling her beloved Yorkie, Snickers, were among her other life passions.

Terry will be missed by her husband of 56 years, Carl, whom she married on March 29, 1969; their daughters, Carla (Eric) Basiletti of New Philadelphia, and Jaime (Allen) Leeper of Midvale; her granddaughters, Sierra, Holly, and Ericka (Tyson West) Basiletti, and Emma, Jenna, and Mason Leeper; four great-grandchildren, Nickole, Roman, Charlotte, and Jazzlyn; sisters-in-law, Shirley Valentine, Treva Valentine, and June Dietz as well as her nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Terry was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard Valentine and Daniel Valentine; a sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Ed Jaskiewicz; and a brother-in-law, Bill Dietz.

The family will greet guests on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia, where Fr. Jeff Coning will lead a service in the funeral home’s chapel on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 10:30 AM. Burial in the Calvary Cemetery at New Philadelphia will follow.