Carole Hand Bohnert
Sunday, December 12, 1943
Date of Death:
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Age:
67 years old
Sunday, December 12, 1943
Date of Death:
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Age:
67 years old
Sunday, December 12, 1943
Date of Death:
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Age:
67 years old
Carole Hand Bohnert
Gracious, feisty and strong, Carole Hand Bohnert went to the best place with our God and Savior on December 8, 2011 after a two-year struggle with recurrent breast cancer. She amazed all of us with her willingness to engage and be a full participant in life even in her final days with us. She is survived by Thomas, her husband of 43 years, her sister, Judy Porter, her three children, Amy, Eric and Kurt, and her two grandchildren, Keira and Patrick.
Carole was born on December 12, 1943 in Savannah, GA to Hortense and Joseph Bernard Hand. She lived in many towns across the south before finally settling in Tallahassee, FL where she graduated from Florida High. She went on to attend Florida State University where she met her husband, Tom, a MN native who was a Ph.D. graduate student in chemistry. The two were married on July 6, 1968 in Detroit, MI, where Carole was completing her dietetic internship. They spent the next 12 years in Midland, MI where their three children, Amy, Eric & Kurt, were born. To spice things up, they moved to Baton Rouge, LA where they developed a taste for Cajun food and culture. In addition to taking care of three busy children, Carole went back to school and earned a masters degree in counseling at LSU. Over the next fifteen years, Carole worked as a therapist and mental health consultant in Michigan and Illinois. Throughout the years, the family enjoyed numerous adventures across the country, including many wonderful trips to New Hampshire in their Ford Econoline van. Their greatest adventure, following Carole’s initial diagnosis of breast cancer in 2001, was purchasing a dog boarding and grooming facility in Rochester, NH, that they operated for 10 years. Carole loved animals, and they loved her back. In January of 2011, Carole and Tom moved to Rochester, MN to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Carole was very creative and had many talents, including knitting, quilting, photography, and scrap-booking. One of her most remarkable gifts was her cooking. Everyone who knew her can conjure up their favorite dishes that she made, but it was her desserts that were unforgettable, especially her cookies. To the world she was one, but to us she was the world, and she will be deeply missed.
To memorialize Carole, in lieu of flowers, her family will coordinate donations to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Research and the Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH.
The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 12, 2011 at the Church of the Resurrection, 11th Ave South East, Rochester, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.
Condolences
The family of Carole Hand Bohnert has received the following condolences.
Dear Tom, Amy, Eric and Kurt, We are so sorry for your loss of Carole. Our hearts go out to you. We had a loss of our son, Tom, last year so we know your sorrow won't be easy. Our prayers and love, Bob and Mary Ann Dostal
Tom: We were so saddened to hear of Carole's passing. I had thought of you folks from time to time and wondered where the Bohnert family had ventured off to since leaving the midwest. The last time I asked Ryan, he did not know Kurt's whereabouts either. I know he would like to hear from him. Tom and I wish you all the best and please let us know how we can make a donation to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Research Center in Carole's memory. Jan Cartmill
Judy,
May God bless you and your family at this moment in time.
To Judy, Tom and all of Carole's family -
I am so sorry for your loss. My wish for Carole is that she has found peace. My hope for all of you is that you find solace within the love of family and friends.
Peace, Darci Lolley
Dear Amy and your Dear Family,
I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm hoping your family finds comfort in your time together. Our thoughts are with you.
Julie & Huy
Our sympathy to the family, especially you Tom because you not only lossed a wife but a best friend of 43+ years as well. Carol was such a good wife and mother, we can only imagine the pain you all must be feeling, to lose a close family member in death can be emotionally devastating. The good news is that soon sickness and death will be done away with (Isaiah 25:8; 33:24). The best news is that there is a wonderful hope of a resurrection for all those in the memorial tombs (Acts 9:36-41; 24:15). That means our loved ones will return to life again, healthy and happy, your tears of sorrow will turn into tears of joy.
Dear Tom, Eric, Amy, and Curt,
We are so very sorry for your loss. We will continue to hold you close in our hearts and prayers. Carole's legacy is one of faithfulness and commitment, generosity and above all love.
Kathy and Lin Linabery
Our thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends.
Tim and Paige in Phoenix
Tom, I am so sorry to read that Carole has left us. We offer our sincere sympathy to you and your family whom she loved with all her heart. She was such a strong woman who wasn't afraid to show her fear but most of all trying to accept the struggle in fighting her cancer. We will remember her generosity and especially her love of the animals who were in her care. Knowing you and Carole for 4 years when we brought our 8 week old pup for playgroup and boarding and as a member of the Rochester, NH community and Holy Rosary, we can say that it was a pleasure to know her and to witness the devotion and love shared between the two of you. Your strong faith will get you through.
Dear Tom, Amy, Eric and Kurt,
We were so very sorry to hear about your loss.
Carole and I spent many joyful hours together while you lived in Midland. We visited regularly while the children played together.
Tom, she loved you with all her heart and was so proud and happy with the life that you, the children and she shared. We spent many hours talking about the wonderful dad/ husband that you are.
Amy, Eric and Kurt, you meant more to her than life itself. On a daily basis, you "lit up her life." She was a role model for all mothers.
Carole introduced me to a phrase that I had never heard before when she said to me, "Carol Messing you and I can talk the horns off of a billy goat." I quote that sentence quite often.
We know that this is a most difficult time for all of you, and we pray that the memories that you share will be a blessing to you.
With deepest sympathy,
Carol & Shelly