Obituary of Carol M. Pennington
~~Pennington, Carol M. (Miller)
Natalina Carol Miller
Here’s the Carol we all knew and loved!!!
Mom was born in Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo NY on January 5th 1934. Her parents were Clarence J. Miller and Edythe G. Miller (McMahon). She was adopted by them at a very young age. She was married to Walter B. Pennington in 1961. In 1962, her first daughter, Kathleen, was born in the very same hospital in Buffalo, NY. Carol is predeceased by her husband Walter (2001) and many friends and family members. She leaves behind six daughters: Kathleen (Patrick) Williamson, Pammi (Doug) Hill, Patti Buckman, Kimberle (Paul Czapranski) Pennington, Sherree (Lou) Litus, and Joan (Anthony) Rosaci. Grandchildren: Emily Hill, Andrea (Brendan) Gillen, Adam (Sabrina) Hill, Tim Hill, Kadi (Brenden Debyah) Kibler, Alex Kibler, Alan Williamson, Harley Buckman. Tom (Doreen) Knotts, Jami (Jeff Jackl) Litus, Troy (Young) Cadieu, Blaine (Brenda) Cadieu, Paul Rosaci, Nicholas Rosaci, Neil (Nicole) Rosaci, Leanne Rosaci. Great grandchildren: Morgan VanCuran, Michael Gillen, Phoenix Debyah, Elizabeth Hill, Taylor Knotts, Tommy Knotts Jr., Christina Cancel, Ricky Cancel, Cailee Cancel, Carissa Cancel, Steven Jackl.
During her life time she was very passionate about her family. She loved to make “Bread and Butter” Pickles, read Danielle Steel novels, work on Crossword and Suduko Puzzles, eat all types of German food such as German chocolate cake, German potato salad, German coleslaw & German sauerkraut. She liked gift-giving! No gift was given without fresh batteries installed by her because she played with every toy and it wasn’t given until it received her personal seal of approval! She loved to create doll houses, grow her own cucumbers to make pickles, play Santa Claus, “Wing” snowplow trucks and her “Macgyvered” watch bands were legendary!
Her favorite haunts were “The Beachcomber” where everyone called her “Grandma Security” and where her surprise 80th birthday party was held. Owned and operated by her good friends and second family, Mary Alice, Tom, and Tommy May, The Beachcomber was a place of friends, fun and relaxation to her. It was also the place she met “The other Walter Pennington” ….often, in the past, Carol and Walter received phone calls from upset parents trying to reach the school principal who had the same name. Though not related he did attend Carol’s 80th surprise party and happily posed for pictures with Carol’s entire family! “Schaeller’s” was another favorite place where she always went with friend Marlene Horn. Everyone at Schaeller’s knew her and they always had her order ready when she came in the door! We recently learned, from Dave (3rd Generation) that the young staff had to be taught the meaning of the word “jigger” because she would request a “jigger” of vinegar for her fries and they had no idea what she meant!
Mom knew she was adopted but never knew the name of her biological mother until adoption papers were given to her by her great niece after the death of her sister in law. Upon initial search, we told mom that she might be Irish and not German. She protested and the search stopped! “I am German!” (See previous reference to German Food!) When first diagnosed with cancer, May 9th, 2016, she agreed to more searching. The family tree, published on Ancestry.com, by a man, Glenn Lazarus, listed his mother’s name and birthplace identical to the information on the adoption papers for Carol’s biological mother. Quicker than you can say, “Kiss me I’m Irish!” Carol was meeting her younger brother Glenn for the first time! His family and Carols’ have become one.
Mom touched a lot of people’s lives! Please, know how very special each and every one of you was to her, even if your name is not mentioned here! She has always hated saying, “Good-bye” and that is why many of you didn’t know of her declining health or didn’t get to see her before she left. She was a terrific and strong woman! She knew how much you loved her! She will be with us all, as we all try to be just a little more like her.
There will be a Celebration of Life/ Memorial Service for Carol, to be held on June 3th, 2017, 11:00am at Victory Church, 32 Wildbriar Rd. Roch. NY 14623. Donations in memory of Carol may be sent to: Monroe Community Hospital Foundation, 435 E Henrietta Rd, Roch. NY 14620, Victory Baptist, Strong Museum of Play c/o Institutional Advancement, One Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY 14607 or The Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center, 2652 Ridgeway Ave., Rochester, NY 14626