Remembering Alyssa Wheeler-Keene

Alyssa Jean Wheeler-Keene, 31, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, November 4, 2022, after a brief illness. Please consider supporting Alyssa's husband, Matt, and their eight-month-old son, Ryan, at this incredibly difficult time.

Alyssa was born February 26, 1991, in Ashtabula, the daughter of Charles and Jacquelyn (Mihm) Wheeler and was a resident of the Cleveland area for many years after she graduated. The valedictorian of her 2009 graduating class at Lakeside High School, she was an overachiever and active in National Honors Society. She played basketball, volleyball, and travel softball during those years. She played tenor sax in the band and later played with the local band, The Blues Project.

Alyssa graduated Cum Laude in 2013 from John Carroll University with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. While she was at JCU, she was Chapter President of her sorority, Kappa Delta in 2012 and Vice-President of Operations in 2011. She was also a member of the Order of Omega Pi Sigma Alpha Honors Program. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Cleveland Marshall School of Law in 2016 where she was a student clinician with the Cleveland Marshall Advocacy Clinic, and a member of the Women's Law Student Association.

On May 21, 2021, she married the love of her life, Matt Keene, whom she had been together with for 8 years. Alyssa and Matt spent the majority of their loving and strong relationship all over the Cleveland area; from their favorite hangout spot of choice Angelo's Pizza, next door to their Lakewood apartments, to just enjoying spending time with one another in their brand-new home in Willowick. Avid Vegas travelers, Alyssa loved to enjoy those bright lights and fancy hotels and making sure she got those high roller chips away from Matt at the Roulette tables.

Alyssa and Matt spent many nights of enjoying their favorite paranormal documentaries, ghost hunting shows and true crime documentaries. Dreams of having a large family, their eight-month-old son Ryan Patrick Keene came along and changed Alyssa's heart forever. She was an amazing mother and wife. Only the best for her baby boy, as she would always say. Spending time with Ryan were her best moments in her day.

Alyssa was sworn in by the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio in 2017 to practice law. Alyssa was licensed in Ohio and Michigan Federal Court. She began her career at Ritzler, Coughlin, and Paglia, LTD as a law clerk and moved to an attorney after passing the Bar exam. Alyssa had some day hoped to serve on the Supreme Court. Alyssa was a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. Alyssa was currently employed with Gallagher Sharp in Cleveland.

Alyssa loved politics and was an outspoken feminist. She enjoyed Taylor Swift and Beyonce. She always felt women "RULED" the world. An animal lover at heart, she especially loved her cats: Roman, Dorothy, and Remy. An avid sports fan, Alyssa loved the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indians, and the Browns. From her second date with Matt at a Browns game to the downtown celebration of the CAVS championship, sports were always a huge part of her life. She enjoyed beating Matt and his friends with her fantasy football team.

A fantastic mom, she did everything in the world for her son and centered her life around him and her husband all while still maintaining her professional responsibilities. During the pandemic, she took up riding a Peloton bike and found inspiration to keep herself physically active every day.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Matthew Keene; her son, Ryan Patrick Keene; two sisters, Ricquelle (Billy Post) Wheeler and Andrea (Devyn Adkins) Wheeler; her parents, Charles (Patricia Anderson) Wheeler and Jacquelyn Wheeler; father and mother-in-law, Bob and Wendy Keene; sister-in-law, Mallory (Elliot) Frahm; and nieces and nephews, Haylee, Trent, and Noah; and her uncle Michael (Tonya) Mihm who was very special to her.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Milford Braden and Kaino Wheeler; maternal grandparents, Larry and Margaret Mihm; her uncle, Johnny Wheeler; and cousins Melissa and Ian Wheeler.