Alexis Renee Piero

Alexis Renee Piero, 65, of Richmond, Virginia, left this world on Wednesday, November 29 peacefully,and surrounded by loved ones. Her family thanks everyone who bade goodbye to Alexis in her final hours, sending her off swathed in the love of all those whose lives she had touched.

Alexis was born in Canton, Ohio to Walter and Phyllis Piero. She was raised in Sheffield Lake, Ohio, and after graduating from Brookside High School, attended Bowling Green State University. Alexis lived in Cleveland for several years, moving to Cincinnati, Dayton, Michigan, Tennessee and then Richmond, Virginia while she was in the wholesale flower business.

Following a long career in wholesale flowers and trying contracting for a time, Alexis found her her love and true passion in life: helping people to build and rebuild their lives as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist with Henrico County Mental Health Services. Alexis prided herself in helping others recover from alcohol and substance use. She applied her unique perspectives as someone recovering herself from a substance abuse disorder, and as a trans, bisexual woman to welcome those in need with open-hearted compassion.

So many in the Richmond, AA, and LGBTQIA2s+ communities credit Alexis with being key to their peace, recovery, and for saving their lives. Alexis dedicated herself entirely to helping others, often employing tough love, but with steadfast empathy. She was famously never more than a text or phone call away.

Alexis’s zeal for helping others also extended to the four-legged population of Richmond. She gave her heart to her rescue pups Mazy and Frank, who returned the love tenfold. Alexis also enjoyed gardening, woodworking, and most importantly, rooting for The Ohio State Buckeyes football team. She also loved spending time with her family, especially her sister and housemate, Pam, and many friends but more importantly, spending time with her daughter Nicki and her family. She will be remembered for her sharp-witted humor, always skillful at navigating dark times with a clever joke.

Alexis will be loved and missed by her surviving family: her daughter, Nicole Piero-Reeves and her husband Jason, her grandchildren, Michael and Abigail Reeves, her siblings, Pamela Piero, Kevin Piero, and Keith Piero, her nephew Joshua Piero, her nieces Morgan Plott, Megan Negrete, her step-mother, Jane Piero, her step-siblings, Les Gregg, Don Rasmussen, Robert Rasmussen, and Lin Malott, her step-niece, Jayni Rasmussen, her step-nibling Raz Rasmussen, and her beloved dogs, Mazy and Frank.

Alexis is preceded in death by her father, Walter Piero, her mother, Phyllis Castle Reynolds, her stepfather Richard Reynolds, her paternal grandfather, Walter Piero, and grandmother Ruth Piero, and maternal grandfather, Russell Castle and grandmother, Twyla Castle.

Alexis’s family looks forward to receiving her far-reaching, prismatic community at a celebration of life on Saturday, January 27th, 2024, at 3:30 PM. This will occur at River Road Church, 8000 River Road Richmond, VA 23229.

Final notes with love:

• If Alexis was your Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, please do not wait: find a new sponsor today. You are worth it.

• If you are struggling with substance use or mental health, you are not alone. Please reach out to Henrico Mental Health Services and seek the support you deserve at (804) 727-8515. In the event of a mental health or substance use crisis, their Emergency Services personnel are available 24/7 - call (804) 727-8484.

“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes.

Because for those who love with heart and soul

there is no such thing as separation.” ~Jalāl al- Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī