Carol Petrosino Obituary
June 27, 2021
by Julie Fabris
The world lost a beloved wife and mother, Carol Petrosino on June 24th, 2021. Carol bravely battle Lung Cancer twice, but it never stopped her from living and enjoying her life until the very end. She died peacefully at home in Arizona, with her loving husband Joseph right by her side. She had felt very fortunate to have been able to have spent time with many of her children and grandchildren in her last year of life as well.
Carol was born in Watertown, Wisconsin on August 16th, 1940, born to parents Alfred Anschutz and Laura Zuehls.
While growing up in Watertown, Carol loved the simple things in life like picking Asparagus, fishing, swimming and riding her horse. She was also First Chair as a Trumpet Player at Watertown High School when she was asked to play Professionally for Jolly Cholly's Trio Polka Band, but she chose to start her family instead. She enjoyed being a stay at home mother for many years, eventually going back to school and earning her GED, no small feat for a young mother, with 7 children at home.
But Carol didn't stop there, she then obtained her CNA and got a job at Watertown Memorial Hospital awhile also doing private home health care. She eventually moved to California and worked for Glendale Memorial Hospital, until being promoted to a Medical Records Technician at St. Joseph's Medical Center where she worked for 19 years in the Medical and Legal Departments until retiring in 2003. Carol was so good at her job, so loving, professional and kind, that Actor Telly Savalas offered her a job in New York City to be his mother's personal caretaker, which she turned down to be able to raise her last teenager at home. Telly was so impressed with Carol and her loving bedside manner that when his mother died, he came back to California to personally give Carol his mother's Emerald wedding ring as a gift for taking such good care of her.
Upon her healthcare retirement, Carol bought her dream home in Fort Mojave Arizona, on a private lake, hosting many family, friend and church events. Despite loving her career in healthcare, she loved her family more and was truly the matriarch of the family. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary and had a special way of making everyone feel warm and welcome. She always had an open table and loved to cook and collected recipes her whole life. She will also be remembered for her love of baking Christmas Cookies and Fudge, often making hundreds of special, handmade cookies for the whole holiday season that the family could eat and enjoy throughout the month of December.
While growing up in Watertown, Carol loved the simple things in life like picking Asparagus, fishing, swimming and riding her horse. She was also First Chair as a Trumpet Player at Watertown High School when she was asked to play Professionally for Jolly Cholly's Trio Polka Band, but she chose to start her family instead. She enjoyed being a stay at home mother for many years, eventually going back to school and earning her GED, no small feat for a young mother, with 7 children at home.
But Carol didn't stop there, she then obtained her CNA and got a job at Watertown Memorial Hospital awhile also doing private home health care. She eventually moved to California and worked for Glendale Memorial Hospital, until being promoted to a Medical Records Technician at St. Joseph's Medical Center where she worked for 19 years in the Medical and Legal Departments until retiring in 2003. Carol was so good at her job, so loving, professional and kind, that Actor Telly Savalas offered her a job in New York City to be his mother's personal caretaker, which she turned down to be able to raise her last teenager at home. Telly was so impressed with Carol and her loving bedside manner that when his mother died, he came back to California to personally give Carol his mother's Emerald wedding ring as a gift for taking such good care of her.
Upon her healthcare retirement, Carol bought her dream home in Fort Mojave Arizona, on a private lake, hosting many family, friend and church events. Despite loving her career in healthcare, she loved her family more and was truly the matriarch of the family. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary and had a special way of making everyone feel warm and welcome. She always had an open table and loved to cook and collected recipes her whole life. She will also be remembered for her love of baking Christmas Cookies and Fudge, often making hundreds of special, handmade cookies for the whole holiday season that the family could eat and enjoy throughout the month of December.
Carol was a good friend to so many, having kept friendships with the same people for over 60 years. She also made it a point to send out yearly Christmas Cards. She also loved the art and how special sending handwritten letters were, often including pictures, poems or articles that she knew the receiver would enjoy. She often shared a cup of coffee or a glass of wine with friends or family to talk about life or past memories. Carol was such an approachable person, never judging anyone for how they lived their life, or for their past mistakes. Carol understood and accepted a person's “humanness” and that is what made her truly different, truly special and truly one-of-a-kind.
She loved to dance, she loved to laugh, rummage and antique - decades before rummaging and antiquing became the popular trend it is today.
Carol believed in charity, philanthropy and giving back into the community and remained an active member of both the Loyal Order of the Moose 652 and Ladies VFW Auxiliary 1040 in Burbank California until her passing, serving on many committees throughout her 35+ years of membership. She was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Fort Mojave, Arizona.
Carol is survived by her wonderful husband and partner of 32 years, Joseph, her children; Gary (Regla) Schmidt, Gene (Anne) Schmidt, Cyndy (Joe) Elworth, Steven Schmidt, Scott Schmidt, Julie (Fred) Fabris, Tommy Harrington, and Marina Petrosino, her Grandchildren; JoHanna (Rick) Shortt, Leo Elworth, Moriah Schmidt, Logan (Jordan) Schmidt, Kendrick (Mada) Schmidt, MaKenna Gimmel, Andrew (Sarah) Fabris, Anna (Josh) Sullivan, Abby (Cory) Kramschuster, Joey (Anastasia) Petrosino, Daniel Petrosino, and Anthony (Autumn) Petrosino, her Great Grandchildren; Bryce Harrington, Elias Shortt, and Great-Great Grandchildren; James Fabris, Juliana and Alessia Petrocino, Nathaniel Schmidt, Nora Schmidt, and finally, her sweet Calico Cat Spunky.
She was preceded in death by siblings, Violet Anschutz Rabbach, Dorothy Munzel, Donald Anschutz, Margie Anschutz and Granddaughter Jessica Schmidt.
Carol wanted to make sure to include how much she loved, adored and will miss her nieces Ellen Schildbach, Sharon Eiserman, Susan Heider, Lauren Bohlman and nephew Butchie Rabbach, who she developed and maintained a very special bond with when their mother Violet (Carol's sister) passed away.
A Memorial Church Service will take place in Fort Mojave at the United Methodist Church at a later date, and a Celebration of Life and Graveside Burial will be held in Watertown, WI in the fall.
She loved to dance, she loved to laugh, rummage and antique - decades before rummaging and antiquing became the popular trend it is today.
Carol believed in charity, philanthropy and giving back into the community and remained an active member of both the Loyal Order of the Moose 652 and Ladies VFW Auxiliary 1040 in Burbank California until her passing, serving on many committees throughout her 35+ years of membership. She was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Fort Mojave, Arizona.
Carol is survived by her wonderful husband and partner of 32 years, Joseph, her children; Gary (Regla) Schmidt, Gene (Anne) Schmidt, Cyndy (Joe) Elworth, Steven Schmidt, Scott Schmidt, Julie (Fred) Fabris, Tommy Harrington, and Marina Petrosino, her Grandchildren; JoHanna (Rick) Shortt, Leo Elworth, Moriah Schmidt, Logan (Jordan) Schmidt, Kendrick (Mada) Schmidt, MaKenna Gimmel, Andrew (Sarah) Fabris, Anna (Josh) Sullivan, Abby (Cory) Kramschuster, Joey (Anastasia) Petrosino, Daniel Petrosino, and Anthony (Autumn) Petrosino, her Great Grandchildren; Bryce Harrington, Elias Shortt, and Great-Great Grandchildren; James Fabris, Juliana and Alessia Petrocino, Nathaniel Schmidt, Nora Schmidt, and finally, her sweet Calico Cat Spunky.
She was preceded in death by siblings, Violet Anschutz Rabbach, Dorothy Munzel, Donald Anschutz, Margie Anschutz and Granddaughter Jessica Schmidt.
Carol wanted to make sure to include how much she loved, adored and will miss her nieces Ellen Schildbach, Sharon Eiserman, Susan Heider, Lauren Bohlman and nephew Butchie Rabbach, who she developed and maintained a very special bond with when their mother Violet (Carol's sister) passed away.
A Memorial Church Service will take place in Fort Mojave at the United Methodist Church at a later date, and a Celebration of Life and Graveside Burial will be held in Watertown, WI in the fall.