Obituary

Carol L. Mead

Obituary

Carol L. Mead, 64, died Friday, June 20, 2014, at Schowalter Villa in Hesston.

She was born May 9, 1950, in Concordia to Albert and Lois (Douce) Ryser, and was the youngest of four children. Carol and her brother and sisters grew up with a love of music and singing, and prayed together every morning before catching the bus to school.

Carol met Stephen Mead and married her best friend on June 5, 1971, a day she described as the happiest in her life. Carol and Steve had two children, Jay Mead and Angela Mead. Steve, Carol, Angela and Jay built their home in Hesston, from the ground to the roof. Carol considered herself fortunate to have a home she could share and family to love in it.

Carol and Steve collected many things in their home, and Carol's most prized possession was the many fond memories made there. It was that collection that mattered to her most, and which connected Carol to the goodness of life and God's presence in it. Carol enjoyed nurturing her children, family and friends in that home, filling it with love. Carol's nurturing personality was expansive; she used her talents to build relationships and connect with others as a member of the Altar Society at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Newton, and as a receptionist at Knudson Monroe, where she worked for 18 years.

Carol loved to give good gifts, and always knew that even the simple gift of her warm smile could make the difference for family, friends and clients. Through the trials Carol and her sisters have handled with grace and fierceness, they have earned the nicknames Pansyana, Pansylene and Pansylou. Carol and her sisters knew the pansy only appears to be fragile. It is, however, the heartiest of flowers with lots of personality, able to weather the bitterest of winters with beauty. Carol, like the pansy, endured a battle with brain cancer with a humble courage that was inspirational to friends, family and others fortunate enough to know her.

Carol is survived by her husband, Stephen Mead of the home; a son, Jay Mead of Memphis and his wife, Anne Mead and their daughter, Madeline Mead; a daughter, Angela Mead of Austin, Texas; a brother, Charles Ryser of Haddam; and two sisters, Mary Ann Fox of Ft. Collins, Colorado, and Ilene Roy of San Antonio, Texas.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with The Rev. Jim Mainzer presiding. Visitation will be 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday evening, with the Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:30 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends following the Rosary. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Newton.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the St. Mary's Altar Society or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, in care of Petersen Funeral Home.