SQUILLACE, Carolyn Gloria (nee: Tavernit), died peacefully of heart disease on March 24th, 2020, at the age of 93. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Stephen and grandson Cooper Larsh. Loving mother of C. Susan (Mark) Kawa, Mark (Maureen Ryan), Kathleen (John) Jordan, Jean (John) Schrage, Thomas (Kathleen), Patricia (Gary) Mallet, and Christine Hodge. Proud and loving grandmother of Kelly (Greg) Buchanan, Martin Kawa, Sam Squillace, Tom Squillace, the late Cooper Larsh, Tom Jordan, Jennifer Jordan, Matthew Jordan, Stephen (Sarah) Schrage, Betsy (Jon) Dmitruk, Billy (Martha) Schrage, Danny Schrage, Colleen Squillace, Jacqueline Squillace, Tim Mallet, Jessica Mallet, Katelyn Hodge, and Caroline Hodge. An even prouder great grandmother to Jackson Buchanan, Emilie Buchanan, Matthew Dmitruk, Joey Dmitruk, and Billy Schrage.
Mom moved to the Detroit area after completing high school and was a resident of St. Clair Shores for over 50 years. She was a faithful parishioner at St. Joan of Arc Catholic church, sending all of her children to the school there. She spent the last 8 years or so of her life surrounded by loving friends and the incredible, caring staff at the American House East II, in Roseville, MI.
Those of us fortunate enough to grow up in the Squillace household truly knew what it meant to have a loving and caring mother. Our dad traveled a lot when we were younger, and Mom handled everything about the household with fairness, competence, and above all, love. When you complained about something, and she corrected you (which could be a tad on the stern side), you could feel the love. When the children of other families had nicer things than you, she always had a way of showing you how the love we all felt for each other was more important than any material items.
Carol was an avid card player, teaching all her children, grand-children, and great grand-children many different types of card games. She loved crossword puzzles, word searches and Sudoku; if you were stumped for a birthday gift, these types of magazines were always a great last minute go to gift.
Carol’s family will always remember the importance she placed on family vacations. Every summer from the time any of her children can remember she single-handedly organized week-long vacations. Early on, the family would travel to Pennsylvania to visit her parents. But once her parents moved to the Detroit area, Carol would arrange for vacations at family resorts throughout Michigan and Canada, ultimately landing on Fern Resort outside of Orillia, Canada. Fern became synonymous with family vacations, and eventually expanded to her extended family. Carol loved everything about Fern but especially the opportunity that it gave her to spend time with her children and grandchildren. The Fern experience culminated in a 50th Anniversary party for Carol and Steve at Fern Resort in the year 2000 that attracted more than 90 members of our extended family.
As Carol aged, her love for her family grew more apparent. She was always so grateful for any company at her apartment in the American House, and she was able to recognize and greet her guests by name almost to the very end.
When the matriarch of a large extended family such as ours passes at such an advanced age, there are always mixed emotions. We are happy that Mom is no longer in pain, and that she will be reunited with our Dad and many other relatives in heaven, but we are sad that we can no longer be with her. Funeral services will be private, but the family plans a large celebration of life later in the year. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Hospice of Michigan, at https://www.hom.org/donations/
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