Carol L. Pillarelli

Carol Lynn Pillarelli, age 65, passed away on Monday, January 14, 2013 at Bortz Health Care in Rose City. Carol had lived in West Branch since 2011, formerly of East Hampstead, NH. Carol was born in Ironwood, MI on September 5, 1947 and raised in Wakefield MI. Carol and Al met after high school; Carol had become employed by the University of Michigan as a student housing coordinator in Ann Arbor and Al attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids MI. (Born and raised over 600 miles apart-Carol in Wakefield and Al in Monroe). They were introduced in June of 1966 by a friend of one of Al’s cousins--a blind date that neither of them wanted and the rest is history; love at first sight! They were married on October 28, 1967 at Immaculate Conception Church in Wakefield. She was the best thing that ever happened to a bum like Al!! Carol’s special accomplishments were all about the family. It was Carol who boldly and persistently met head-on every challenge imaginable to see to it that Brittanie and Melodie had a good Christian home; Brittanie and Melodie were raised by Carol and Al from early childhood. Al was the head of the household and “whatever Carol said goes!” She was indeed an angel with a very kind heart and with the backbone of a fierce adversary when called for. She was the epitome of the expression that “ behind every good man is a good woman!” Carol is survived by her husband Alfred Miles Pillarelli of West Branch, daughter Tracie Lynn (Ralph) Curtis of Hookset, NH; granddaughters Brittanie Anne Sullivan of Tulsa, OK, Melodie K. (Christopher) Powell of West Branch and Shara Sullivan of Manchester, NH and Carol’s grandson, Ralph Curtis (affectionately called “Joe” by Grampa) of Hookset, NH. Also surviving is her mother Isabelle May (Pender) Valesano of Greenwich, CT,her sister, Diane (Jean-Marc) Longo of Stamford, CT. and her aunt Bernice Valesano of Wakefield, MI. She was preceded in death by her father Anton Charles Valesano, Al's brother Nicholas Fay Pillarelli and many aunts and uncles. Visitation at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch will begin on Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 2-8 p.m. with a lady’s rosary at 3:00 p.m. and a Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. On Friday, Carol will lie in state at Holy Family Catholic Church beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Fr. Patrick Maher will officiate. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association. A burial of her ashes will be held Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 2:00PM at the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery in West Branch.