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Carol Ann Spaniola
Born: 7/3/1936
Died: 3/27/2025
Age: 88
Community: Owosso, MI
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Carol Ann Spaniola
Age 88 of Corunna passed away Thursday, March 27, 2025 at Oliver Woods Retirement Village in Owosso.
The family will receive friends at Nelson-House Funeral Home on Sunday, March 30, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Monday, March 31, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m., with a scripture service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at noon on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Owosso with Fr. Dieudonne Ntakarutimana officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery.
Carol was born on July 3, 1936 in Owosso, the daughter of Theodore and Alice (Matousek) Klempirik. She grew up on the family farm in rural Owosso, after spending her early elementary school years in Flint. She worked on the farm, was active in 4-H, and attended the Octagon School, a one-room country school in Shiawassee Township, through the eighth grade. She then attended Owosso High School, graduating in 1954 and enrolling at Michigan State University, from which she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education.
Carol married her high school sweetheart, Francis (Bus) Spaniola, on November 28, 1957 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Owosso, beginning a marriage and life together that would last more than 67 years until her death.
Carol began her career as an elementary school teacher at the Green Meadows and McCall Schools in the Owosso area. In 1962, she and her husband opened a soft serve ice cream restaurant in Owosso, known as Anthony’s Dairy Delight. Carol managed the family business for 27 years until its sale in 1989, mentoring a generation of young employees and developing friendships that lasted the rest of her life.
Carol and Bus had four children and moved from Owosso to Corunna in 1966. Carol played an active role in her children’s lives. Among other things, she was a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader; and an active participant in the PTO at her children’s schools. She regularly shuttled her children, and many of their friends, to school and other activities over a number of years.
Carol was a strong partner for Bus during his 16-years of service in the Michigan House of Representatives. She graciously opened her home to constituents and, during election years, hosted and organized countless campaign events.
Carol served as Chair of the Shiawassee County Democratic Committee longer than anyone in history. She also held positions in the Democratic Women’s Club and in various Democratic Congressional District Committees. She was a member of the Shiawassee County Board of Canvassers for many years, serving for a time as its Vice-Chair and then as its Chair.
Carol was a member of the Owosso Chapter of Zonta International for over 40 years, serving twice as its President and as a delegate to the Zonta International Convention in Helsinki, Finland in 1989. She also served on the Catholic Social Services Board, both as a member and as its President, and was a long-time member of the St. Catherine’s Guild.
Carol helped to establish the annual Corunna 4 th of July Celebration, serving on the organizing committee for several years and, for a time, as its President. She was a driving force on the Committee to Save the Corunna Community Center and served for a number of years as the Corunna Festival of Trees Committee Chair. She was a member of the Corunna Historical Village Committee and the Chair of the Corunna Sesquicentennial Founders Committee.
Carol’s deepest devotion was to her family. She loved hosting family gatherings and brightened everyone’s lives with her warmth, kindness and generosity.
Carol is survived by her husband, Francis (Bus) Spaniola; by her children, Anthony (Kim) Spaniola; Angela (Tom) Snell; Mary (Rich) Gold; and Joseph T. (Patti) Spaniola; by her grandchildren, Anthony Spaniola III; Matthew (Jessica Nieuwkoop) Snell; Peter (Amanda) Snell; Nicholas Spaniola; Jordan (Katie) Leitson; Samantha (Justin) Coffin; and Rachael (Daniel) Zabludovsky; by her great grandchildren, Cooper Snell; Joseph Snell; Charlotte Snell; Hunter Spaniola; Miles Spaniola; Harper Snell; and Callum Coffin; by her sisters- and brothers-in-law, Rose (Phil) Brooks; Patti (Jerry) VerHeek; Vic (Kathy) Spaniola; and John Rowe; and by several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by her parents, Theodore and Alice Klempirik; by her husband’s parents, Anthony and Angeline Spaniola; by her sisters, Jean Flagg and June Rowe; by her sister-in-law, Josephine Spaniola; and by her brothers-in-law, Francis A. Spaniola and Larry Flagg.
Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Paul Catholic Church in Owosso or to the Friends of the Corunna Historical Village.
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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3/30/2025 |
| Time: |
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6:00 PM |
| The family will receive friends at Nelson-House Funeral Home on Sunday, March 30, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Monday, March 31, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m., with a scripture service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at noon on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Owosso with Fr. Dieudonne Ntakarutimana officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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4/1/2025 |
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| Location: |
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Nelson-House Funeral Home
120 E. Mason Street
Owosso, MI 48867Get a Map to this location...
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