Caroline "Carol" (Kesic) Garea

Canfield - Caroline “Carol” Garea, passed away on May 30, 2025, at 100 12 years of age. She left her life on earth to join her late husband, Raymond A. Garea, on his birthday.

Carol was born on December 24, 1924 in Youngstown, Ohio, the daughter of Ignatius and Agatha Kesic. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and worked for the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, generally known as the A&P. Carol left that job to begin her lifelong passion and career as the focal point of her family. Carol always put her family first, making sure her children were provided with the opportunities for each to pursue their dreams and turn those dreams into reality. She instilled in her children a work ethic that was only outdone by her own. Ever the caregiver, she took care of her aging mother until her death.

In addition to caring for her family, she was active in the women’s auxiliaries at Saints Peter and Paul Church and the Latin Culture Club. She hosted meetings at her home for the Youngstown Toastmasters Club and the Youngstown Certified Life Underwriter classes, which were conducted by her late husband. Carol counseled her grandchildren to pursue their dreams and to work hard to achieve them. She was never shy about sharing her opinion or advice to her children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren, always in a loving way.

Carol had a competitive spirit her entire life, still showing it at the age of 96 when she won three medals at the assisted living facility The Inn at Ironwood’s Olympics, competing for her parents’ home country of Croatia.

Carol is survived by her five children: Raymond (Cathy) Garea, Stephen (Linda) Garea, Joseph (Diane) Garea, Christine Cole, and Marilyn Garea; her ten grandchildren: Susan Garea (Josh), Michael Garea, Lauren (Matt) Thomas, Samuel Garea, Peter (Anabelle) Garea, Annie Garea, Taylor (Megan) Cole, Andrew (Katherine) Cole, Stephanie (Mike) Huston, and Sarah Navarra; and 10 great grandchildren: Fern, Otis, Maxine, Frances, Livia, Lena, Archie, Eddie, Madison, and Brayden.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her beloved son-in-law, Stephen Cole, whom she considered to be her fourth son, her sisters Mary Mikicic and Barbara Evans, and her brothers George, Stephen, Tom, John, and Iggy Kesic.

Family and friends may pay their respects to Carol on Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 9:00 am until 9:50 am at Saints Peter and Paul Church, 421 Covington Street, Youngstown, where a funeral mass will follow at 10:00 am with the Very Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Siffrin as celebrant.

Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of the Rossi and Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Boardman.

Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to Greater East Ohio Alzheimer’s Association, 408 Ninth Street SW, Suite 3400, Canton, OH 44707. https://www.alz.org/eastohio

The Garea family would like to thank the owners and staff of The Inn at Ironwood for the care they gave their mother during her residence with them.

Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Carol’s family.

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