Christine Carroll (1950 - 2018)

7/4/2018
BY JAVONTE ANDERSON
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Christine Carroll, a proud family woman, devout Catholic, and longtime educator, who spent 36 years teaching at area schools, died Monday in Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg. She was 68.

Christine Carroll
Christine Carroll

She had a cancerous tumor, her family said.

Mrs. Carroll was born Feb. 17, 1950, in Detroit to John and Patricia Randolph, and took pride in her Irish heritage. She moved to Toledo as a young girl and graduated from Maumee High School.

Mrs. Carroll attended Ohio University, where she met her husband, John Carroll, in the university’s cafeteria. The Carrolls dated for three years before getting married in 1975.

She later received a master of education degree from the University of Toledo.

Mrs. Carroll started her career as a substitute teacher at Toledo Public Schools before becoming a full-time teacher.

Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Carroll was a loving wife and mother. She and her husband spent a lot of time taking their children to activities, including swim meets across the state. All four of her children went on to swim in college.

“If we had to do it all over again we’d do it in a heartbeat,” Mr. Carroll said.

Mrs. Carroll was a loyal friend whose moral compass, guided by her Catholic beliefs, always steered her to do the right thing, said Cindy Roberts, a longtime friend.

“There are only a few people in your life you can trust to always be loyal and always stand up for the right thing,” Mrs. Roberts said. “I feel so lucky to call her my friend.”

Mrs. Carroll also spent her spare time volunteering at several organizations including St. Francis de Sales School, Greater Toledo Aquatic Club, and Christ Child Society.

“She was truly a selfless person,” Mrs. Roberts said. “If you needed anything she would get it for you.”

Mrs. Carroll was raised in a religious family and ensured that similar values were instilled in her children, her husband said.

She traveled to many places with friends and family in the past 15 years, including Ireland, Europe, the Mediterranean, and Cape Cod, Mass., her husband said.

“She was just a ball to be around,” Mrs. Roberts said. “She was an amazing woman. She will be missed a lot.”

Surviving are her husband, Jack Carroll; sons, John, Patrick, and Michael Carroll; daughter, Kathleen LaLonde, and four grandchildren.

Visitation is from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd. in Toledo. A rosary service will be offered at 7 p.m.

The family also will greet friends at 10 a.m. Saturday until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. that day at Christ the King Parish, 4100 Harvest Lane in Toledo.

The family suggests tributes to St. Francis de Sales School, the Sisters of Notre Dame, or Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

Contact Javonte Anderson at janderson@theblade.com419-724-6065, or on Twitter @JavonteA.