Carol Ann (Milano) Buckman, age 66, of Plano, TX, passed away peacefully in her home on April 11, 2022, with family and friends around her, as she looked out her bedroom window at her beloved garden on a sunny spring afternoon, and after valiantly fighting a twelve-year battle with End Stage Renal (kidney) Disease.
Carol was born in St. Louis, MO in 1955 to Paul and Mary (Mocca) Milano. She has two older sisters, Josephine (Milano) Lagow and Catherine (Milano) Reinhold. Carol grew up with the benefit of a large Italian-American extended family, many of whom lived within a few blocks. Cousins Charles and Paul lived just next door and were like big brothers to her. Large family gatherings, especially on holidays were some of her favorite childhood memories. Carol became an excellent cook, and not just of Italian specialties. She said that she owed her talent to the lessons learned from her grandmother, Catherine Mocca, her mother, Mary Milano, and her aunt, Josephine "Josie" Mocca. Carol adored her “Grandma” Mocca, and she would spend many Wednesday afternoons after school helping her bake bread for the family. Although Grandma Mocca spoke virtually no English, she had a wonderful sense of humor, and she and Carol had no problem communicating.
After graduating from Bishop DuBourg High School and Miss Hickey’s School for Secretaries, and working a short time for Ralston Purina, Carol began a 15-year career at Southwestern Bell, beginning in 1979. In that time, she advanced up the ranks, beginning as a Senior Stenographer, to eventually becoming the Executive Assistant to the President of SWB Technology Resources, Inc.
It was while working at Southwestern Bell that Carol met, and eventually married, the love of her life, Dan Buckman, in January, 1984. Carol also fell in love with Dan’s three daughters (from a previous marriage): Tricia, Jen, and Kelly. She treated them with the same love and affection as if they were her own children. And the girls returned Carol’s love just as strongly. After about five years of marriage, Carol was concerned that she wouldn’t be able to conceive children of her own. So, she and Dan vigorously studied a variety of adoption options. After about two years of effort, they were successful in adopting a 3-week-old baby boy, Jonathan Paul (Jon) in early 1992. All four “kids” have grown into healthy, well-adjusted adults who have become increasingly close over the years. They have been a huge comfort to Dan as he is coping with the death of his dear Carol.
With the transfer of Dan’s job to the Plano, TX area in 1994, Carol took the opportunity to retire from her employment at Southwestern Bell in order to be a full-time Mom to 2-year-old Jon. It was in this capacity that Carol thrived; she had found her true life’s vocation. Having been a life-long St. Louisan, and being extremely close with her Italian-American family, Carol made the move to the Dallas area with some trepidation. However, she immersed herself into the neighborhood community, Jon’s school activities, and the local sports scene. She became an avid fan of all of the professional sports teams in Dallas, especially the Dallas Stars (who won the Stanley Cup in 1999), the Dallas Mavericks, the Texas Rangers, and even the Dallas Cowboys.
Carol and Dan loved to travel, especially anywhere that had a beach. Carol’s favorite destinations were southern California and Hawaii, particularly Maui. But she also loved the big-city life of New York City, and they went there on multiple occasions as well. It was on these trips, and his exposure to Broadway plays, that got Jon hooked on musical theater in high school.
When Jon was a senior in high school (2009), Carol’s health began to fail. She was diagnosed with End Stage Renal (kidney) Disease. It was at this point that Carol began regular dialysis treatments, three days each week. This disease, and the harshness of the continuous dialysis treatments, gradually impacted other organs in her body and required multiple hospital stays and surgeries over the next 12 years. After a recent 3-week hospital stay for multiple serious health challenges, Carol calmly and quietly said that she needed “to go home.” Shortly thereafter, Carol’s long battle was over, and she was finally pain free and at peace.
Carol was preceded in death by her father, Paul Salvatore Milano, her mother Mary Constance (Mocca) Milano, and her sister, Paula Milano. She is survived by her husband, Dan; daughters Tricia Moyer (Shawn), Jen Eichhorn (Billy), Kelly Lodes (Kevin); and son Jonathan Buckman (Brooke); grandchildren Audrey, Zadie, Avery, Trey, Keira, Kayla, and Amie; niece Christine Lagow, and nephew Scott Reinhold.
A funeral Mass for Carol will be held at Prince of Peace Catholic Community, 5100 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, TX on Friday, May 13 at 11:30am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation serving Dallas (nkf.org).
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.teddickeywestfuneral.com for the Buckman family.
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