Obituary for Carol Ann McDonnell (Billings)
Our precious mom, Carol Ann McDonnell (nee Billings), a kind and loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and sister, passed away peacefully at age 66 on December 16, 2020 from a courageous year-long battle with cancer. Carol passed peacefully in her Stow, Ohio home surrounded by her husband of 45 years, along with her children and grandchildren, whom she adored tremendously.
Carol was born on November 10, 1954 and grew up in Akron and Hartville. She graduated from Lake High School in 1973. When Carol was a senior, she acquired a love for flying and obtained her private pilot’s license. Carol went on to work at Swenson’s Drive-In restaurant alongside her mom, seven years in the Billing Department for BFGoodrich, and later for Community Newspapers of the Jackson Township Tribune using her creative and artistic skills for advertisements and page layouts. Carol’s most fulfilling job through the years was caring for numerous children, too many to name, but each one whom she loved unconditionally, raising them like her own. She also cared for all four of her beautiful grandchildren when they were babies and over the years during summer school breaks. Carol enjoyed adventures with all her lovebugs, including trips to the buffalo farm, Mapleside and Beckwith Farms, Akron Zoo, Portage Lakes State Park Beach, Maplewood Pool, Chuck E. Cheese, Sky Zone, Zip City, and Target.
Carol held a passionate love for her family and friends, cooking, gardening, and crafting. Carol was very creative with the arts and crafts and enjoyed making Christmas ornaments. Carol held craft shows with her good friend, Melanie Barrett. She became an amazing cook and baker and everyone raved over her homemade cookies, especially her chocolate chip and wafer pastels with buttercream frosting. Carol put love in every cookie and made over hundreds for the holidays and special occasions, such as wedding receptions for the cousins.
Carol’s welcoming smile, warm hugs, caring heart, endless generosity, charming sense of humor, grace and courage will never be forgotten. She was an inspiration to all.
Carol is preceded in death by her parents Roy and Barbara Billings; father-in-law, Raymond McDonnell; mother-in-law, Jackie McDonnell; sister Linda Minger, two brothers-in-law, Jim Billings and Junior Miller; niece, Jacklyn Billings and good friend Sherry Rozaieski. Carol is survived by her husband, Michael A. McDonnell; four children, Melanie (Jonathan) Abt, Jennifer McDonnell (Greg Dugal), Michael (Sarah) McDonnell, Brian McDonnell (Kim Middaugh); four darling grandchildren, William and Benjamin Abt and Julia and Lucy McDonnell; her brothers, Geoff (Karen) Billings and Tim (Cindy) Billings; sisters Sue (Jimmy) Raies and Annie Miller; three brothers-in-law, Raymond (Kathy) McDonnell, John (Joan) McDonnell, Tim (Jackie) McDonnell; sister-in-law, Colleen Billings; close cousins who were like sisters, Nancy Nelson, Cheryl Bauder-Genda and Georgine (Jim) Lawson; two beloved sons she treated as her own, Dale (Phuong) Vance and Michael (Colleen) Gross, cherished long-time friends Renee McConahy and Rose Law, among many precious nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family members, close neighbors and dear friends.
Carol and family would like to thank Dr. Terry Wagner and the Hudson Family Practice team, the doctors of Summa Akron City Hospital along with all the wonderful nurses on the 7th floor of the East Wing, and the Jean and Milton Cooper Cancer Center, who got her through surgical procedures, cancer treatments and her most difficult days.
Carol and family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for all the comforting meals, prayers, cards, donations, love and support.
Carol was never fond of being the center of attention, so her services will be private for immediate family members only. Due to the pandemic, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Extended family and friends, wishing to honor Carol’s legacy, can make donations in her name to the Jean and Milton Cooper Cancer Center or the CaringBridge website.
Carol was born on November 10, 1954 and grew up in Akron and Hartville. She graduated from Lake High School in 1973. When Carol was a senior, she acquired a love for flying and obtained her private pilot’s license. Carol went on to work at Swenson’s Drive-In restaurant alongside her mom, seven years in the Billing Department for BFGoodrich, and later for Community Newspapers of the Jackson Township Tribune using her creative and artistic skills for advertisements and page layouts. Carol’s most fulfilling job through the years was caring for numerous children, too many to name, but each one whom she loved unconditionally, raising them like her own. She also cared for all four of her beautiful grandchildren when they were babies and over the years during summer school breaks. Carol enjoyed adventures with all her lovebugs, including trips to the buffalo farm, Mapleside and Beckwith Farms, Akron Zoo, Portage Lakes State Park Beach, Maplewood Pool, Chuck E. Cheese, Sky Zone, Zip City, and Target.
Carol held a passionate love for her family and friends, cooking, gardening, and crafting. Carol was very creative with the arts and crafts and enjoyed making Christmas ornaments. Carol held craft shows with her good friend, Melanie Barrett. She became an amazing cook and baker and everyone raved over her homemade cookies, especially her chocolate chip and wafer pastels with buttercream frosting. Carol put love in every cookie and made over hundreds for the holidays and special occasions, such as wedding receptions for the cousins.
Carol’s welcoming smile, warm hugs, caring heart, endless generosity, charming sense of humor, grace and courage will never be forgotten. She was an inspiration to all.
Carol is preceded in death by her parents Roy and Barbara Billings; father-in-law, Raymond McDonnell; mother-in-law, Jackie McDonnell; sister Linda Minger, two brothers-in-law, Jim Billings and Junior Miller; niece, Jacklyn Billings and good friend Sherry Rozaieski. Carol is survived by her husband, Michael A. McDonnell; four children, Melanie (Jonathan) Abt, Jennifer McDonnell (Greg Dugal), Michael (Sarah) McDonnell, Brian McDonnell (Kim Middaugh); four darling grandchildren, William and Benjamin Abt and Julia and Lucy McDonnell; her brothers, Geoff (Karen) Billings and Tim (Cindy) Billings; sisters Sue (Jimmy) Raies and Annie Miller; three brothers-in-law, Raymond (Kathy) McDonnell, John (Joan) McDonnell, Tim (Jackie) McDonnell; sister-in-law, Colleen Billings; close cousins who were like sisters, Nancy Nelson, Cheryl Bauder-Genda and Georgine (Jim) Lawson; two beloved sons she treated as her own, Dale (Phuong) Vance and Michael (Colleen) Gross, cherished long-time friends Renee McConahy and Rose Law, among many precious nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family members, close neighbors and dear friends.
Carol and family would like to thank Dr. Terry Wagner and the Hudson Family Practice team, the doctors of Summa Akron City Hospital along with all the wonderful nurses on the 7th floor of the East Wing, and the Jean and Milton Cooper Cancer Center, who got her through surgical procedures, cancer treatments and her most difficult days.
Carol and family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for all the comforting meals, prayers, cards, donations, love and support.
Carol was never fond of being the center of attention, so her services will be private for immediate family members only. Due to the pandemic, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Extended family and friends, wishing to honor Carol’s legacy, can make donations in her name to the Jean and Milton Cooper Cancer Center or the CaringBridge website.