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Carol McElroy
01/01/1940 — 09/19/2015
From Richland, WA | Born in Spokane, WA
Carol McElroy
Carol Cecile (Bambino) McElroy who was born on January 1, 1940 in Spokane, WA at Sacred Heart Hospital passed away on September 19th at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, WA.
Carol grew up in Spokane and attended Catholic schools including Holy Names Academy. She graduated from Sacred Heart school of Nursing in 1962 as a registered nurse and married Jack L. McElroy of Spokane in 1962. They recently celebrated their 53rd anniversary.
She was a wonderful wife, loving mother, and fabulous Nonny. She played the piano and taught her girls to play the guitar. Carol was active in crafts and macramé and loved shopping and decorating the home, especially for Christmas.
Their daughter Toni Ann was born in Spokane and after Jack graduated from Gonzaga University in 1963, the family moved to the Tri-Cities where Jill Marie was born. Their daughters were the focus of their lives, until four grandchildren came along.
Carol worked at several hospitals and nursing homes in the
Tri-Cities including Kennewick General and Vista View nursing home where she
loved working with the disabled patients. She was a passionate and caring nurse
and would often volunteer to work the holidays so the other nurses could be
home with their family; her own family would join her for the day at work.
Carol also worked in Sales Merchandising with No Nonsense Fashions and Procter
and Gamble. Carol was very active with
St. Patrick's School in Pasco where Toni and Jill attended and was in charge of
many school functions.
Carol loved to travel, especially to Hawaii and Mexico, and also loved going on cruises. They would usually take the entire family on their vacations. She and Jack became snowbirds with a second home in Green Valley AZ where their daughter Toni lives and they spend the winter months.
Carol, also known as Nonny to her grandchildren, will be
reunited in heaven with many family and friends who have preceded her, including
her Mother Cecilia (Anselmo) Bambino and her father Herbert G. (Curly) Bambino.
Carol is survived by her husband Jack, two daughters Toni (Wally) Howard, Jill (Kevin) Heaton and grandchildren, Ryan Levy, Joseph Haun, Emily Haun, and Justin McElroy. Carol has surviving brothers, Rodney in Hawaii and Major Bambino in Spokane. She has many cousins and extended family members, most of who still live in Spokane.
Please join the family at 2:30 PM Friday September 25, 2015 at Holy Cross Cemetery in Spokane, WA with a Liturgy service starting at 3:00 PM. There will also be a Memorial Service in the Tri-Cities at Faith Assembly Church in Pasco, Saturday at 1:00 PM September 26, 2015.
Memorials or gifts in Carols name can be sent to the Tri-City Chaplaincy (Hospice) or The Mid-Columbia (Tri-Cities) Salvation Army.
Carol you were always so positive and happy. It was great to see you in September. I thought you looked more healthy but maybe it was your beautiful smile. You are with your loved ones and God. Be very happy in your new home.
All is well!
We miss you
Karen McElroy
Dear Uncle Jack, Toni, Jill, and family,
I will always remember Aunt Carol as cheerful and friendly and welcoming. Whenever I would visit, you were always very glad to see me – I always felt very welcomed. There was the time my family and I showed-up late to the family re-union at Uncle Bill’s place. We got there just as you were leaving, but when we arrived you stayed longer so you could visit with us – and invited us to stop by for a visit at your place once we headed back to California. We gladly did, and very much enjoyed our visit. You made our young children feel right at home.
Please know that we are keeping you in our prayers. We can look forward to another family re-union someday where we will all be together again. May God’s comfort be yours to the fullest. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction …” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a
Carol was our very dearest friend. She will be missed by all who knew her…most especially by us. She enjoyed life with her family and friends so much…the more the merrier. We have such fond memories of our friendship over the years watching the family grow and expand. We love you all and share in your loss. Our prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Toni and Family,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss and the loss of our neighbor. She will be missed and know that you and Jack are in our thoughts.
Ben and Lesley
We were very sad to hear about Carols passing. Nerissa and myself knew,her less than two years, but in that time she really made,us feel like part of the McElroy family. We,had a fantastic vacation in Matzelon and it was capped off by Justin proposing to Nicole. Both Carol and Jack really care for their kids and grandkids and you can see why this is such a close family. Nicole really enjoyed her time with Nonny and she will be missed by all. Our thoughts a prayers go out to all her family and we are fortunate that we had a chance to get to know her. Glen and Nerissa Ledgerwood
Carol was a determined and courageous woman with a wonderful sense of humor and laugh. We send our condolences to the McElroy family. God Bless you all.
I have known all of you my entire life. I spent so much time at your house growing up. Carol was my “other mother” as she would remind me of often. I love you guys so much. Carol always had the most beautiful smile and I loved being around her, all of you, growing up. She will be greatly missed, and always loved. God Bless, Carol. Love you, Miss you. I will see you again. Love to all of you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
To Mr. McElroy, my dearest friend Toni and the rest of the McElroy family,
I was lucky enough to actually meet Carol in person and have a chance to feel her energy and zest for life! After hearing about her long-term health struggles, it was so nice to see how happy she and Mr. McElroy were at their home in Arizona. They were charming, hospitable, funny, energetic and everything I thought they would be after knowing their daughter for so long and realizing she came from such good people.
Although cut shorter than expected, I hope everyone’s treasured memories will help Carol live on as an example of a life well-lived filled with family, friends and fun adventures. Our thoughts are with you as we celebrate such a wonderful woman. All the best with a warm embrace….Kelly & Brandon
Carol, I love you and miss you. I washed your brown chair blanket with extra water, soap and Downy and Jill and Toni brought it to wrap you up to keep you warm. The girls have spent two days sorting though all the picture albums you made so that Emy can make a video of your life. We just watched it. You always had a beautiful and infectious smile. You touched so many and impacted in the best way your daughters and grand kids lives. You made our family so close. You were and still are so pretty and I hope I told you so, even when you were so tiny. We all miss you, Rest in peace. Love Jack
To our wonderful friends Jack , Toni ,Howard & family
How Norm and I will miss your mom’s wonderful smile. No matter how she was feeling she always had that contagious smile ,
We are very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time.
Love ,
Cheryl & Norm
You all are in our prayers at this time. We share your sadness. Remembering the good times. Much love.
What wonderful pics. and words showing what a gift Carol was in so many lives.
I remember her from Sacred Heart School of Nursing years. She was loving, smart and very fun.
My condolences I send to her loved ones. gracia
Our hearts and prayers go out to you and your families. We weren’t able to see Carol as often as we would have liked – and that is our loss. We will all miss her.
Dear Major (and family),
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers at the loss of your sister.
Len Ward
retired SPD Records Supervisor
We will miss her great smile and enthusiasm for life. May her family be comforted.
I had the honor of assisting Carol and Jack with the purchase of their new “winter” home in Green Valley, AZ about 3 years ago. I immediately liked Carol with her great sense of humor and her feisty spirit. She and Jack were a joy to work with in the building of their new home and Carol was always in great spirits and made me laugh every time I was around her. I know they have made many great friends in their Arizona neighborhood and she will be greatly missed. It always seemed so apparent the love Carol and Jack shared and I’m so happy they had so many years together!
On behalf of The Salvation Army of the Mid Columbia, I would like to express our condolences to Jack, past Advisory Board President and current member at large, and to their lovely family during this time. Carol was always a beautiful lady who will bring joy to others with her contagious smile and kind spirit. Jack our prayers are with you and may the Lord give you peace and comfort in the days ahead.
“The Lord is faithful to all His promises” Psalm 145:13
The last time I saw Carol and Jack was June of 1998. My husband had a convention to attend in the Tri-Cities and I tagged along. We had our youngest, Anthony, with us. (6 month-old). I drove around until I found the McElroy house. I showed up unannounced, with a baby, and they were so gracious. We spent several hours chatting. A fun, lovely day with 2 adorable people.
Our prayers are with the family. Carol was such a loving sister-in-law.
Carol was such a loving soul and so much fun to be around. I’m glad that we got the pleasure of knowing her over the years through Jill and sharing some fun times. She will be missed here on earth, but her spirit will never be forgotten. Our condolences to the family. Love Dan & Chrissy Charron
For Jack and his remarkable family:
We loved Carol. She was kind, very smart and really classy. We witnessed the great joy she took in Toni & Wally, Jill & Kevin and the lights of her life: Ryan, Joseph, Emily and Justin. Carol was a person who celebrated living, and we are happy for Jack that he had her for so long — we wish it could have been more. Carol leaves behind a legacy of accomplishment and friendship that comforts and inspires. We will all carry the blessing of her in our hearts. God go with you, her family.
Bud & Laura Langan
Guestbook for
Carol McElroy