Preceded in death by her parents Frederic and Bertha Trevorrow, her brother Robert Trevorrow, and infant son, Frank David Keran, her first husband Francis Harold Keran and her second husband Edward "Ed" Alstrom.
Survived by her daughter Frances Ades of Coarsegold, her son and daughter-in-law David and Jennifer Keran of Fresno, niece Margery Trevorrow of Oakland, stepson and wife Charles and Linda Alstrom of Fresno, stepson John Alstrom of Newport Beach, six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Carol lived a full 96 years thanks to choosing the right parents who lived to be 92 and 89 and her positive outlook on life. Her parents were of Cornish heritage and were children of miners who immigrated from England to the US to mine for quicksilver (mercury) in New Almaden located in the hills south of San Jose.
Though Carol was born in San Francisco she spent most of her childhood and young adulthood in Berkeley. She attended public schools and Armstrong Business College.
In Berkeley she met and married her first husband Francis "Fran" Keran in 1936. Three children were born of the marriage, Frank David who died in infancy, daughter Frances, and son David. Fran Keran was the President of the Golden West Box company and in 1950 the family relocated to Fresno when the company moved its headquarters here. Carol and Fran took up sailing and became members of the Fresno Yacht Club. Carol was active in the Los Ninos Guild which supported Valley Children’s Hospital.
Fran Keran died in January of 1960 of viral pneumonia at the age of 44. Beginning in the late 1950s Fran and Carol partnered with another couple and developed two coin-operated laundromats. One of these was located in a building leased by Ed Alstrom of College Pharmacy. After Fran’s death Carol continued running the Laundromats. Ed had been widowed in1960 as well. In one of those twists of fate Ed and Carol’s business relationship developed into love and they were married in May of 1961.
Carol and Ed merged their lives. They became faithful members of the First Baptist Church. Ed took up sailing and the couple enjoyed many years of competition and fun with the Thistle and San Juan sailing groups within the Fresno Yacht Club. They enjoyed travel and traveled around the world twice.
Carol, through her marriage to Ed, inherited two step sons, Charles and John and their families. She became the grandmother and great grandmother to the Keran and Alstrom families’ offspring, a role she cherished.
Ed passed away in 1984. Nineteen years ago Carol moved into her own apartment at San Joaquin Gardens and was active in resident affairs and government throughout her years there. She only recently moved from her apartment to assisted living.
Carol was a champion for women causes and was especially supportive of young women. She always considered herself an equal in all respects to her spouses and helped other women find themselves and their power.
Carol considered herself to be lucky. She was born to excellent parents who provided a stable life during her formative years even through the depression. She enjoyed the love and support of two exceptional men and two families. She was firm in her faith in Christ. She had many friends and acquaintances. Even into her 90s she kept developing new friends as her peers departed before her. Though in her final years she lost her central vision from macular degeneration she made adjustments so that she could continue to be engaged in the world. She made learning a lifelong commitment. Hers was truly a life well lived.
Many thanks to the nursing staff at St. Agnes 2 West and to the staff at Hinds Hospice who provided love and support for Carol and her family.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Fresno First Baptist Church, on Monday, August 13, 2012 at 11:00 am.
Remembrances can be made to Hinds Hospice.
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