Spina, Carol Ann Cecile
Surrounded by her loving family, Carol Ann Spina of Green Township passed away the morning of July 20th at the age of 49 after a courageous battle against colon cancer. For nearly three years she fought with quiet, dignity and grace, a paradigm of hopeful strength, refusing to give up until the very end.
Carol was born at Chilton Hospital in Pequannock Township on January 27, 1968 and grew up in the Erskine Lakes section of Ringwood. Always enjoying her time outdoors, she played softball, embarked on frequent camping trips with her family and spent her summers swimming in the lake. In grade school Carol was a cheerleader for the little league football team. Once enrolled in Lakeland Regional High School she took an interest in music, learning to play the flute when she wasn’t lacing up skates for disco night at a nearby roller rink.
Only a few years after graduating high school, she met her husband to be, Michael, at the Kinnelon location of Consumers Distributing where she ran the jewelry department. It was his first day of work, a cold snowy day and, as usual, he was late. Carol was stuck there until he showed up, and as fate would have it, she stuck with him for the rest of her life. They were an unbreakable unit, their bond of unconditional love a mountain to weather all storms.
Carol married Mike on June 9, 1995 at Our Lady of Consolation Church after dating for nearly four years. In November of 1997 they welcomed their first son Alexander to the family and in December of 2003 he was joined by their second son Jacob. Carol was always proud of her boys. Her unwavering devotion and unconditional love for them were her primary tools to shepherd them to a brighter future.
Her keen intelligence, diligence and dedication led her to become a department manager for the medical billing company nThrive. Embraced by her co-workers, she was beloved not just as a boss or an employee, but as a mentor, friend and sister.
Carol’s caring, generous, funny and mischievous spirit was matched by her creativity. Talented with her hands, she enjoyed making crafts, painting ceramics and crocheting. Not only was she a fantastic cook, but as anyone who tried her apple pies or cookies can attest, also an expert baker.
The best ways to describe Carol will always be to talk about her vibrant and buoyant warmth. Her loving spirit was also exemplified by her gentle way with children and animals, especially her dogs whom she loved so much: Samson, Diesel and Knuckles.
Upon her cancer diagnosis in November of 2014, Carol entered the excellent care of oncologist Dr. Michael Kane, MD and surgeon Dr. Cynthia Jones, MD. Carol and her family would like to take this time to thank both them and their staffs for the incredible care they always gave Carol, as well as the nursing staff at Newton Memorial Hospital on 2 Hussey and Cathy Smith, RN of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. Carol was never a patient for them, she was treated like family, and for that her family will be forever grateful.
Carol was predeceased by her father Richard DeDeyn, Sr. and her father in law Anthony J. Spina III. She is survived in life be her beloved husband Michael, her cherished sons Alex and Jake both at home, her loving mother Gloria DeDeyn of Aberdeen, NC, her sister Jeanne DeDeyn of Rockingham, NC, her brothers Richard Jr. and his wife Kathy DeDeyn of Manning, SC and Robert DeDeyn of Elmwood Park, NJ. Also surviving are her mother-in-law Catherine Spina, her sister-in-law Debbie Piperno, her husband Frank, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held Monday July 24th, 2017 from 5 to 9 PM in the Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home, 156 Main St. (Rt. 206) Newton. A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, July 25th at 11:00 AM in the Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church, Rt. 517 Andover, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Carol Ann’s memory to the American Cancer Society, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society or Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.
