Carol Ann Maier

Carol Ann Maier, 79, of St. Joseph, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, after a courageous battle with cancer on Monday, May 23, 2016 at Lakeland Medical Center-St. Joseph.  She will be fondly remembered for her strength, beautiful smile and awesome hugs!! Per her wishes there will be no formal service and cremation has taken place.   Carol’s family will be hosting a memorial/celebration of life gathering to share stories and memories of Mom/Grandma from 2-8 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2016, at The Sundance Studios in Millburg, 4817 Territorial Road, Benton Harbor. Carol wanted everyone to remember her from the last time they saw her before her illness.  Memorial donations in her name may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 67, Baroda, MI  49101-0067; or to the trials at Duke University for Glioblastoma, c/o The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, DUMC Box 3624, Durham, NC  27710.  Those wishing to sign Carol’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.   Carol and her family would also like to thank all the doctors, nurses, aides, caregivers, friends and neighbors that assisted her over the last several months.  Including all the phone calls, cards, prayers and visits during her illness.  Carol was born May 27, 1936 in St. Joseph, MI to James & Carmela (Serra) Ott.  She graduated from St. Joseph High School Class of 1954.  Carol was a wonderful caring mother, grandmother and homemaker.  She will be remembered for always making fantastic meals and creating a loving home for her family.  As her daughters grew, she worked part time as the Church Secretary at St. John’s and Saron Lutheran Churches, and also volunteered/served on various church committees over the years.  She was a Girl Scout Leader, Room Mother, enjoyed gardening & canning vegetables, and was a very passionate & avid cook & baker of authentic Italian cuisine. Carol thoroughly enjoyed a glass of fine red wine & trying her luck at the slot machines. What made her happy was preparing food and sharing her love with others by giving it to her family, friends and neighbors. .  She later worked at Lakeside Underwriters and then retired after 26 years as an office administrator/clerk for the Friend of the Court Division of the Berrien County Courthouse. She was an avid fan and always enjoyed watching Detroit Tigers Baseball.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren and was a supporter of their activities. Carol is survived by her three daughters:  Debbie (Bob) Grossi of Rockwood, ME; Donna Tober of Benton Harbor, MI and Cindy (Eric) WoodBury of High Point, NC;  five grandchildren: Allison, Amanda & Alexis Tober; and Hannah & Christian WoodBury; sisters, Mary Jane Mahoney and Diana (Pat) Haney; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.  She was preceded in death by her parents and son-in-law David Tober.