Carol Ann Cortrite

Carol Ann Cortrite, known for her love of laughter, and her beautiful blue eyes, passed away on October 4, 2024, at the age of 76, in Simi Valley, California. Carol was born in Massachusetts on May 13, 1948, where she lived until the age of nine. She then traveled across the country with her mom Shirley, dad Edward and sister Janice. Carol was the oldest of six siblings, one brother, ED and four sisters, Janice, Paula, Penny and Pamela. Her parents eventually settled in Reseda, California where she lived until she moved out to spread her wings and embrace her independence shortly after turning eighteen.

A Passage from Carol: Passions of Carol Cortrite

Carol: “In a way, I envy those in the arts: music, singing, acting; for they are pursuing their one true passion. As for me, I have too many passions to focus on only one. I fear that to submerge myself in any one of them would only serve to make me less interested. Therefore, when the muse kisses me, I dive into the passion with gusto.”

Carol had many passions; dancing was high on her list of being the most fun. She learned the dances of the Hawaiian Islands. What once started out as a joke to learn how to dance for a “theme party” turned into an annual Luau and eventually she and her dance partner Barbara became simi-professional. She continued dance lessons learning the Hula, and Maori dances with the Hula being her favorite because the hands were graceful and told a story. Later in life she took up ballroom dancing and had the time of her life!

Carol loved to be creative. She found a new passion for creating Christmas decorations out of beads. She made a new decoration each year and made a bunch of them to share with her family and friends. Her personal favorite was the pearl angels with gold wings. They were beautiful.

Carol’s most rewarding passion was photography. Influenced by the spectacular photos in the National Geographic and Ansel Adams, known for black and white photography, the muse kissed her, and she dove in with gusto. Her favorite subjects were children. She described them as “hams” and they loved to show off in front of the lens. Over the years, through her lens, Carol has documented most of her family’s memories and history.

Professionally, Carol held the positions of Office Administrator/Manager, Administrative Assistant and assisting Executive Level Management. She began her career at Everest & Jennings, and throughout the years held positions at Truog-Ryding Company, Joelson Industries, OneLegacy, ActSys Medical and Kuschall of America. Her colleagues highly respected her talent, organizational skills, creativity and efficiency.

Carol loved her family. She loved belly laughing with her mom and sisters, listening to her brother play his guitar and loved and adored all her nephews and nieces very much.

Carol leaves behind, her mother Shirley Normand, her sisters, Janice Garza, Paula Macias, Penny Stribling and Pamela Fisher. Her brothers’ in-law, Jose Garza, Mike Stribling and Loren Fisher, and Cousin Mary Jennings, as well as all her lovely Cousin’s on the East Coast and other states in the USA.

Nieces:

Michelle Avalos, Gina Avalos, Isabell Avalos, Elena Avalos, Gayle Fisher, Brandy Vandervort, Jessica Normand, Marleigh Jones, Rileigh Jones, Charleigh Jones, Emily Garza, Jasmine Stribling, Cristina Garcia, Jessica Perez, Julie Garcia, Jasmine Garcia, Kristi Foster, Penny Garza, Shanin Bengert, Winona Garza.

Nephews:

Jimmie Avalos, Kyle Fisher, Richard Garza, Matthew Garza, Nathaniel Vandervort, Matthew Vandervort, Everett Jones, Ethan Garza.

She was preceded in death by her dad Edward F. Normand, Sr., Brother Edward F. Normand, Jr., Brother in-law Leonard Garcia and Nephew Tony Garcia.

Carol also leaves behind her dear friends Mike Cortrite, Cathy Javor Enos, Becky and Lupe Gonzalez, Woodi Wooding Tapley and Henry Bollinger.

Funeral services will be held at Compass Church of Simi Valley on

November 23, 2024 @ 11:00 am.

Address: 82A W Cochran Street, Simi Valley, CA 93065

Phone: (805) 584-1004

Celebration of life to follow directly after the service.

Thank you to Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park Funeral Home for your services. Please visit their website and leave a memory of Carol on her original obituary they posted.