Worthington High Schools Alumni Club - Deceased Classmates
First Name
Kristina
Maiden Name
Last Name
Richards
Passing Date
11/8/2025
Class Attended
2018
High School
Worthington Kilbourne High School
Kristina M Richards, age 25, of Worthington, Ohio, went home to be with the Lord on November 8, 2025, in Tampa, FL. She was the beloved daughter of Michael "Tod" and Nikki Richards. She is preceded in death by great grandmothers Junita M. Richards and Anna Dean Lane, and grandparents James and Veronica Valentino. She is survived by her parents Tod and Nikki Richards, brothers Michael, Anthony, and Nicolas; fiance Collin Pierce; grandparents Sharon K and James L Richards; aunts and uncles Joe and Peggy Valentino, Nina and Chuck Kabealo, Maria and Van Lombardo, Tino Valentino and Margie Brickner, Ronni Valentino, Scott and Deana Richards, Cindy Goodman, 23 cousins and 14 second cousins. A good Italian, Kristina loved being surrounded by her large family. Her fun and joyful personality were always on display during family gatherings. The entire family is heartbroken by her loss. Her smile, contagious laugh, and fun and caring spirit will be missed by all. There are no words to define the depth of the close family bond and relationship we have shared. As a family, we hold onto the hope of heaven and know that we will see her again. Kristina was born on December 5, 1999. She attended Granby Elementary, McCord Middle, and graduated from Worthington Kilbourne High School in 2018. She desired to achieve and excelled in her schoolwork at each level. She was a 4.0 student and was recognized as a member of the National Honor Society. She participated in the Socratic Society and was granted the Silver Key and Scholar Athlete awards. She demonstrated great leadership skills and had a desire to give back to the community. She was a member of Project MORE, a reading acceleration program for at-risk elementary students. She was also a leader in Girl Talk, a program designed to help mentor girls through turbulent middle school years. Kristina was a highly skilled athlete and a fierce competitor. She loved competing in all kinds of sports against her brothers and would never back down or give in. She played basketball, softball, lacrosse, and club soccer. Soccer was her love starting at age 3 and continuing through high school as a member of the Worthington Kilbourne soccer team. She was enthusiastic about fitness and health and loved going to the gym. Kristina graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2023, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health. She held several jobs after college. Due to her love of coffee, she enjoyed being a barista at Sweetwaters coffee shop in Dublin, where she would occasionally use her artistic talent to draw and decorate a billboard in the shop. Kristina was recently engaged to the love of her life, Collin Pierce, on November 4, 2025, in Siesta Key, FL. It was one of the happiest days of her life. We thank Collin for the joy and love that he brought her, and we mourn with him at her loss and the life that should have been. Most importantly, Kristina was a beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend. She was a beautiful young lady who was loved by everyone. She was full of life, with a smile and cheerful personality that lit up a room. Some of her favorite things were drawing, painting, crafting, cooking, nature, sunny days, the beach, and animals of every kind. She was an avid cat lover. Her artistic ability and love for cooking and baking were traits handed down from both of her grandmothers and her mother, Nikki. She enjoyed countless joyful hours creating, crafting, and baking in the kitchen with her mom. We are grateful for every memory.
