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Testimonials from Friends and
Relatives From Terri Stokes, dear friend and neighbor of Carol's: ...Almost everywhere I look I feel Carol. She is a big angel...her presence is warm and right here keeping me company. I think this morning is the hardest, because at least yesterday I could hold her hand. I am getting used to feeling her spirit, now it is free, rather than thinking of her physically. I am no longer worried about her. And that is relief. It will take time. In another email: ...Tribute to Carol. That's what we are beginning to do, celebrate her life. Give honor to a woman who changed us, who gave us laughter and love, in great measure. I keep seeing her freckle-smile, how she combed her hair back with her fingers, how happy she was going to work at the animal rescue. From Tara, cousin-by-NEW-marriage: 
...a great photo of Carol and Colin at the
barbeque.... Carol looks like her playful cheery
self. (Click the picture for a larger version.)From Aunt Jo: Carol's death is a sad ending to her valiant and cheerful efforts to surrmount so many of life's difficulties that seemed to be heaped upon her. From Cousin Robin: Yes, it is such a loss to have a spark like Carol gone decades before her time. She probably hung in there for years past her endurance. Whatever good fortune we have is such a blessing. And we never do know what is coming round the bend. She will always be in my heart. From Jacquie Baird, step-sister: Washington won't be the same without Caroline, that's for sure. I'll miss our goals of diagnosing future of E.R. plots our never-ending bitching about men in general. She was so much more than just a sister, but a close and wonderful friend. Somehow I just always thought she'd be there. I'm glad she's out of pain now and I hope Colin will be able to begin a new chapter in his life; I know he's a rough time too. You're right, Bob Lauer did stick by them both and always seemed to be there for them. I understand her wish to be cremated, but the selfish side of me would like her to be near Elaine (even though I know they're together). Mareen's brother Eddie was a very close friend to Elaine and Caroline both - he had the same sense of humor as all of us. He died a while before Elaine, but Maureen and I feel like the 3 of them are together laughing it up. So far, there feels like there's just a giant hole in my heart, but I'll never think of Caroline without smiling - she had that effect on mostly everyone! Another good thing has come out of all of this in a weird way - Maureen's family is your basic tumultuous Irish family - someone is usually not speaking to someone else. Her sister Kathleen and father haven't spoken in a long time. After he heard about Caroline (he knew her way back when), he broke the silence and they were all getting together for lunch today! So, even if she's not here in body, she working her magic in another way. The website and collage of Caroline are beautiful. She's so beautiful, even in the photos she looks so tired in. [Website is at http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~bobofwa - be sure to see the Guest book] Song: "Good Riddance" also called "The Time Of Your Life," by Green Day It would mean so much to me if you guys could listen to it - ...I think it will make them smile and think of Caroline.... Caroline will know why I chose this song for her! All my love to everybody. Love, Jacquie (AKA Honey Wheeler, to Caroline's Trixie Belden) From her mother Lea Nell: She was always so full of life, and such a joy for everyone until she got so sick. I blame a lot of it on her neck problems. That is when it all started. She worked so hard at that apt building we worked at together...She also hurt her neck in the restaurant work she did. She was always a very hard worker... I know you can remember happier, and better times because we spent a lot of time together as family. I will just remember the times when she was happy and so full of joy. Everyone loved her and she was easy to get along with. No whining or anything when growing up. Another email: Carol is where she has wanted to be for quite a long time because of the pain. It had been more than she could endure for a long time. We all have to accept that deep down this is what she wanted. I know that is hard for all of us to comprehend, but the pain has been a constant for so long for her. We all love her, and will miss her, but she will still live in our hearts, and thoughts for as long as we are here. And another: I still cannot believe it. One minute she was here, and the next she wasn't. She and I had our problems, but I loved her dearly. She was so cute and fun growing up, I can still see her with her blonde hair, and sunny demeanor. Never any trouble, and always wanting to help out. She and Elaine were the two who most wanted to help out with the younger ones. In fact, I had to make them both go out to play sometimes. They just loved the babies, and of course we had lots of them. From Dave Pfeffer, dear long-time friend of Carol, and Colin's god-father: ...my sweet Carol, aka: Kara. I gave Carol that nickname shortly after we met and it has stuck with her and I referred to her as that until the last time she and I spoke several weeks ago.... I would however like to tell you about just one of the many stories I could tell all of you that have to do with Kara, stories that will remain in my mind forever. This one stands out in my mind and is the one that I have told over and over again. One night Kara and Phil were at my home with my then wife, Roxann. We were, as usual, laughing and having a wonderful time when we decided that we were going to play "spoons". Hoping that everyone knows what that game is, I will simply say that it is a card game that involves spoons and the picking up the spoons in a quick fashion. At one point in the game, Phil grabbed for a spoon quickly and pulled it back in his direction very slamming it to his chest and actually breaking his skin with the spoon. Kara, as quickly as Phil showed all of us the abrasion on his skin said, "I HAVE AN IDEA, LET'S PLAY KNIVES". She was and always will be, the funniest woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She was loving, caring, and most of all a true friend who was way ahead of her time/place. My greatest desire would have been to have Kara work with me as a PI, knowing that she would have been so very good at it. We talked many times about solving once and for all the Kurt Cobain case and were looking forward to her health getting better so we could embark on that endevour. She was good at reading and understanding people and never met a stranger. Able to take any situation and dissect it and understand it, she would have been a wonderful asset. Unfortunately, this never came to pass but I do know that Kara and I have been together before and will again, love each other in yet another life. From Roxann Nolan, dear long-time friend of Carol, and Colin's god-mother, in an email to Colin: When I have thoughts of "Kara", it puts a smile on my face because she had that effect on everyone. And you, you, you! It goes without saying that you were her one and only heart beat. Knowing Kara the way I do, I know she didn't leave any doubt about that. Colin, let me tell you something that your mother told me when my son died. She said, "Rox, you've got to accept the fact that you will never, ever get over your loss. And as soon as you accept that, you will be able to carry on." And you know what? That was the best advice anyone gave me. And even though I haven't always been in contact with her, I think of her telling me that /everyday/ as thoughts of my son begin to trickle into my mind, morning, day and night. Kara was so smart, so fun, a little bit crazy and so full of love. And I know that has rubbed off on you to carry on. And in an email to me: I think she moved as often as I did. Reviewing my address book, I have 4 different addresses and 3 different phone numbers on her. And I will leave it as is. I will never cross her name out...... I knew she was in bad health, but certainly didn't realize to what extent. You know how she was - always making jokes about everything, including her condition, so without seeing her in person it was hard to know how she really was. No matter what the season, she always had something to say that left a smile on my face and joy in my heart. From Maureen Heaken Clifton, long-time friend: My sweet Caroline, AKA Carlita, You will live in my heart forever like a sister and a friend, never to be forgotten. We laughed often and hard. The memories of our laughter will echo in my mind forever. I was blessed to have had our lives cross paths and to have had you in my life. My love for you is endless. Maureen "TeHeaken" Clifton AKA Marlita T. Higgins Song: Sweet Caroline (dedication) Song: Those Were the Days, My Friend Song: Tears of Heaven Say hello to your dad, Elaine, and my bro Eddy. Please show my mom and dad, Kay and Raleigh, around when they get there. And when it comes my time, and there is a line wrapped around Heaven, would you think about giving me cuts? Carol's friend Eddie died on Christmas morning. Carol heard this poem at that funeral, and later used it for her sister Elaine's funeral. Do not stand by my grave and weep. I am not there; I do not sleep. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds circling in flight. Do not stand by my grave and cry... I am not there. I did not die. -- Royster From Richard Clifton, long-time friend: For Colin, the Grunke family, relatives, and all friends that knew and loved Carol In Loving Memory of Caroline Marie Grunke The Loss of a Loved One I think it is the hardest of times in a person's life Flowers lose their colors, The sun its warmth, And nights are always lonely. But memories last forever. There is always the scent of the rose, The colors of the sunset to remember, Goodness is never forgotten. -Richard O. Clifton, with love Brian wants us to know about the website where his daughter Sara's senior pictures are, at http://www.billwatts.com/seniors.htm . Go to the bottom right, and click on Sara in Kennewick. |
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