Carol Gerbel
December 5th, 1935 - August 15th, 2022
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Carol's Obituary
A wife, a mother, a grandma too,
This is the legacy we have from you.
Carol’s legacy is one of a devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
She has stored away her beloved golf clubs and her aprons after baking a multitude of her favorite
sweets: coffee cakes, cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies and COOKIES!
Carol was born Vivian Carol Hays, December 5, 1935, in her grandmother’s house in Walhonding, Ohio.
Her family later moved to Fremont, MI where she graduated from Fremont High School. In her desire to
become a nurse, she studied at and graduated from Hackley Hospital nursing program in Muskegon, MI.
Her first nursing position was at Memorial Hospital in St. Joseph, MI. She lived at the nurses’ house on
Greenwood Ave. Just across the street from the nurses’ house, lived her future husband.
They courted, married June 1959 and raised their family in St. Joseph. Carol was a pediatric nurse
at the hospital and later at the office of Feely & Skinner MD. Later in her life, she returned to the
hospital as a volunteer on the surgical floor. Carol also volunteered her time at North Lincoln School, Lory’s Place, Child & Family Service and Zion Evangelical Church.
Carol enjoyed golfing with the ladies on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. On Friday evenings she and her husband would play twilight golf with other couples and on Sunday’s she would play with her husband and son at the Point of Woods (Note: the course is closed on Monday and Wednesday is men’s day or she would have played). Carol truly loved the game of golf and absolutely hated to lose to anyone. She loved everything about playing the Point of Woods except the pond on the 17th hole which gave her fits. Some within the family are convinced that her largest expenditure in life was golf balls.
Carol spent decades of Saturdays in the fall feigning her interest in college football alongside her husband Bob in East Lansing. Despite her lack of interest in the game, she always had multiple picnic baskets packed and coolers of tailgate beverages ready for each game day. Carol was always at her husband’s side, cheering for the end of the Spartan football season. Go Green, Go White! Let’s go home.
She and Bob truly enjoyed their friends, neighbors and home in Bonita Springs, Florida. Carol could often be found floating in the pool at peace.
Carol will probably be remembered most for her love of sweets by all who knew her. This is evident in the stash of candy and cookies the family found as we collected her things from Caretel. Carol passed away August 15, 2022. The family wishes to thank the wonderful caregivers Carol had through her journey. Debby Williams from Right At Home provided amazing care for Carol in her home. Kim Polk and Tracy Bromagin cared for Carol at Caretel. A heartfelt thanks to all for enduring her crafty orneriness in her lifelong pursuits of ditching that walker and obtaining more sweets.
Carol is survived by her husband, Robert Gerbel. Children: Nancy (Jim) Kodis, Karen Homan, & Steven (Claudine) Gerbel. Seven grandchildren: Matt (Emily) Kodis, Sam (Sarah) Kodis, Carolyn Kodis, Drew Homan, Kate (Brad Fyffe) Homan, Alex Gerbel & Sydney Gerbel. One great grandchild, Charlie Kodis
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, William & Virginia Hays, sister Lorna Montgomery and
brother, Richard Hays.
A celebration of life service will take place at Zion Evangelical United Church of
Christ, 3001 Veronica Drive, St. Joseph, MI on Friday, August 19, 2022, at 11AM. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, August 18, 2022, from 5PM until 7PM, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 269-5569450.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Carol’s memory to Zion Evangelical United Church of
Christ, 3001 Veronica Dr., St. Joseph, MI 49085, St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation, 2580 S. Cleveland
Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or Lory’s Place, 445 Upton Drive, St. Joseph, Mi 49085.
So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep, your love in our hearts, we’ll eternally keep.
This is the legacy we have from you.
Carol’s legacy is one of a devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
She has stored away her beloved golf clubs and her aprons after baking a multitude of her favorite
sweets: coffee cakes, cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies and COOKIES!
Carol was born Vivian Carol Hays, December 5, 1935, in her grandmother’s house in Walhonding, Ohio.
Her family later moved to Fremont, MI where she graduated from Fremont High School. In her desire to
become a nurse, she studied at and graduated from Hackley Hospital nursing program in Muskegon, MI.
Her first nursing position was at Memorial Hospital in St. Joseph, MI. She lived at the nurses’ house on
Greenwood Ave. Just across the street from the nurses’ house, lived her future husband.
They courted, married June 1959 and raised their family in St. Joseph. Carol was a pediatric nurse
at the hospital and later at the office of Feely & Skinner MD. Later in her life, she returned to the
hospital as a volunteer on the surgical floor. Carol also volunteered her time at North Lincoln School, Lory’s Place, Child & Family Service and Zion Evangelical Church.
Carol enjoyed golfing with the ladies on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. On Friday evenings she and her husband would play twilight golf with other couples and on Sunday’s she would play with her husband and son at the Point of Woods (Note: the course is closed on Monday and Wednesday is men’s day or she would have played). Carol truly loved the game of golf and absolutely hated to lose to anyone. She loved everything about playing the Point of Woods except the pond on the 17th hole which gave her fits. Some within the family are convinced that her largest expenditure in life was golf balls.
Carol spent decades of Saturdays in the fall feigning her interest in college football alongside her husband Bob in East Lansing. Despite her lack of interest in the game, she always had multiple picnic baskets packed and coolers of tailgate beverages ready for each game day. Carol was always at her husband’s side, cheering for the end of the Spartan football season. Go Green, Go White! Let’s go home.
She and Bob truly enjoyed their friends, neighbors and home in Bonita Springs, Florida. Carol could often be found floating in the pool at peace.
Carol will probably be remembered most for her love of sweets by all who knew her. This is evident in the stash of candy and cookies the family found as we collected her things from Caretel. Carol passed away August 15, 2022. The family wishes to thank the wonderful caregivers Carol had through her journey. Debby Williams from Right At Home provided amazing care for Carol in her home. Kim Polk and Tracy Bromagin cared for Carol at Caretel. A heartfelt thanks to all for enduring her crafty orneriness in her lifelong pursuits of ditching that walker and obtaining more sweets.
Carol is survived by her husband, Robert Gerbel. Children: Nancy (Jim) Kodis, Karen Homan, & Steven (Claudine) Gerbel. Seven grandchildren: Matt (Emily) Kodis, Sam (Sarah) Kodis, Carolyn Kodis, Drew Homan, Kate (Brad Fyffe) Homan, Alex Gerbel & Sydney Gerbel. One great grandchild, Charlie Kodis
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, William & Virginia Hays, sister Lorna Montgomery and
brother, Richard Hays.
A celebration of life service will take place at Zion Evangelical United Church of
Christ, 3001 Veronica Drive, St. Joseph, MI on Friday, August 19, 2022, at 11AM. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, August 18, 2022, from 5PM until 7PM, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 269-5569450.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Carol’s memory to Zion Evangelical United Church of
Christ, 3001 Veronica Dr., St. Joseph, MI 49085, St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation, 2580 S. Cleveland
Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or Lory’s Place, 445 Upton Drive, St. Joseph, Mi 49085.
So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep, your love in our hearts, we’ll eternally keep.
Memorial Contributions
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