Let’s celebrate my amazing mom’s life! Not only was she a great mom, but an incredible business and people person who reached out to others with love and a caring heart!

Carole loved music! She was dancing in the crib, before she could walk, earning her the nickname, “Paddlefoot” from her Daddy. She danced around the house, doing her chores and even wore her tap shoes to school! She went to Cahokia High School in Illinois, where she played the French horn in the band and was the Prom Queen her Senior year. Carole went to college at Southern Illinois University, where Carole the dancer met Ron the musician.  Carole and Ron were married in 1955 and had three children.

Later, my mom, brother, sister and I moved to Colorado. My mom was a wonderful, loving mother who was always there for her children. She was also “Mom” to all of our friends and everyone in the neighborhood! My mom worked very hard to give her three children a good life. She was a successful clothing merchandiser, model, radio advertising salesperson and retail manager in a man’s world. What’s more, my mom had a passion for people and reached out to make a difference in the lives of others, no matter where she went.

When she retired, she used her business and people skills when she founded a very successful organization called, The Breakfast Club Singles 50+. Her personal touch set the groundwork for the popularity and reputation of this club, as she talked to countless single, widowed and divorced people for many hours on the TBC phone line, inviting them to the breakfasts and greeting them at the door with a giant smile and hug! With the help of her amazing TBC team, it grew to over 700 members and even more chapters opened up in Colorado, adding more and more events and activities!

Mom was also on the Executive Board of the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA). She was their biggest champion, lending wonderful ideas, inspiration and excitement to the board. She loved to share their message of awareness, education and support for millions living with illness, pain and disability to everyone she met, right up until the last weeks of her life.

Though Mom was very successful in her career and her non-profit work, Carole’s family, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her most cherished accomplishments!

Mom fought a very long, difficult and painful battle with cancer for eight and a half years. Yet, even when she was ill and struggling, she was known for taking someone’s hand and thanking them for caring for her, followed by blowing them a big kiss on their way out the door!

Despite her loving, giving, selfless demeanor, she was the most tenacious and determined person we have ever known, far surpassing any prognosis ever given. Her faith remained strong and she would be the first to tell you that “only by the grace of God” could she do it. Mom may not be with us physically on this earth anymore, but she will always be in our hearts, encouraging us all to by example to reach out to others, no matter where you are in life.

My mom graduated from this life to a glorious one with God in Heaven with my brother, Jim, her parents, sister, niece and precious doggy, Mopsy. She passed on 09-09-2019 at 09:09 AM.

Mom, I already miss you beyond words! But you fought an incredible fight and have suffered so long. Fly free my precious best friend! I love you to infinity and BEYOND! Forever and ever and ever!

Sherri

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