Date of Birth:
Friday, December 18, 1964
Date of Death:
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Age:
50 years old

Carolynne Fillichio

CAROLYNNE FILLICHIO (b. December 18, 1964), cherished life partner, beloved daughter, adored sister, aunt, niece, treasured friend and colleague died on Wednesday, July 1 at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota after a valiant battle with cancer.  A longtime resident of Fort Lauderdale, she was born in Chicago and moved to Boca Raton, Florida in 1973.  She attended St. Joan of Arc Grade School and was a member of the first graduating class of Pope John Paul II High School in 1982.  She attended the University of Mississippi and Broward College.  Her friendships from these times remained among her closest.

Liked and respected in the local legal community, she had a nearly 30 year career in both public and private sector law.  She worked as a legal assistant, legal secretary and paralegal, most recently as a judicial assistant to the Honorable Jeffrey R. Levenson, a judge in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.

In her personal life, she enjoyed practicing yoga, shopping at farmers’ markets; reading novels, biographies and the Sunday New York Times; discussing progressive politics and current affairs; healthful cooking for friends and family; and closet and household organizing for anyone who asked for her help.

She is survived by the love of her life Don Yarbrough, the Ft. Lauderdale-based consumer rights attorney; brothers Christopher (Davina) Fillichio of Boca Raton; Carl Fillichio of Washington, DC; and sister Cherise Jennette (Mark Wyatt) of Jensen Beach.  She was a much-loved aunt to nephews Giovanni Fillichio, Massimo Fillichio and Nick Jennette, and to niece/goddaughter Claira Jennette.  She predeceased her parents, Benedict (Butch) Fillichio of Coco Beach and Sandra Fillichio of Pompano; and grandmother Margee Wayne of Pompano.

A special thanks to Carolynne’s long-time Mayo physician, Dr. Thomas R. Schwab, nurses Ashley Huyser and Carly Grassel and friends who supported her in Rochester during her long fight Jamie Haasch, Charice Schultz and Debbie Haugstad.

Visiting hours will be Wednesday, July 8 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Baird-Case Jordan-Fannin Funeral Home [www.bairdcaseftlauderdale.com] 4343 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 with the funeral service on Thursday, July 9 at 11:00 am at the funeral home.  Burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gift of Life Transplant House (gift-of-life.org) 705 2nd Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55902  (507) 288-7470.