Merlene Ann Moody entered her eternal rest on April 22, 2026, at the age of 88 years young.

Merlene was born to Elinor (Alexander) Moody and William T. Moody on December 9, 1937, in Denver, Colorado. She grew up mostly in Denver and married John Rizzo while in college. They had 4 children, moving to Ohio, Maryland, and then to Michigan where, after separating, Merlene completed her Bachelor's degree and went on to achieve an MBA from Western Michigan University. Merlene taught at WMU for a few years and then moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin, to pursue her career as Professor of Business at Carroll College.

Merlene retired in 2001 and enjoyed travel, golf, tennis, bridge, raising and obedience-training dogs, reading, and knitting for her children and grandchildren.

Merlene is preceded in death by her parents, her son, Mark Rizzo, her daughter-in-law, Andrea (Beall) Rizzo, and her grandson-in-law, William Smith.

She is survived by her siblings, John (Suzanne) Moody and Gail (Doug) Stutler; her children: Kimberly (William) Brock, Renee (Frank) Amodeo, and James (Heather); stepchildren: Sheryl Dwinell (Thane Hafterson) and Katrina Dwinell (Jane Oman); grandchildren: Alexander, Samantha, Griffen, Grant, Karl, Sophia (David), Hannah (Brandon), Mia, and Isobel; great grandchildren: Canaan, Declan, Margot, and Gio; and many nieces and nephews.

A private memorial will be held at a later date. Your memories and condolences can be left online and will be much appreciated.

To honor her legacy, a memorial gift can be made in Merlene's name to Carroll University for the Merlene Moody Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund.

You can donate online at www.carrollu.edu/give.  In the designation field, please select Merlene Moody Memorial.

Or, your gift can be mailed to the following address:

• • • Carroll University
    • Office of Institutional Advancement
    • 100 N. East Avenue
    • Waukesha, WI 53186
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• All contributions will be acknowledged by Carroll for tax purposes.