ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Carolynn Ross, 81 years old , born on July 21, 1937 and passed away on August 24, 2018. We will remember her forever.

Carolynn lived the last 7 weeks of her life at Kiko's Cottage. Kiko's was her first choice. They treated her as a loving family member. She liked the food and enjoyed the company of her loving nurses and friends that visited her.

Please visit the GoFundMe link below. Carolynn would have appreciated any donations that you are able to give. The donations will help those who may need assistance during their stay at Kiko's Cottage. 

Carolynn's brother, sister-in-law and Doris of Kiko's Cottage thank you on behalf of Carolynn for the donations that have been made and any future donations.  

Go Fund Me:     https://www.gofundme.com/carolynn4kikos

Kiko's Website: https://kikosassistedliving.com


August 24, 2023
August 24, 2023
I think of Carolynn every day. She was the best friend I ever had. Still feels like a part of me is gone.
July 22, 2020
July 22, 2020
Carolyn is still remembered at Kiko's Cottage.  She was a beautiful women and we miss her.
July 21, 2020
July 21, 2020
Carolynn, you are still missed so very much!! Now you have Mike up there and I hope you two have had a glass of wine together! I miss talking to you. Please take care of my beloved. I miss him very much too!! Love you
August 28, 2019
August 28, 2019
Carolynn was always talking about lemon cucumbers. Unable to find seeds to send me. Buying some plants this year thinking they were pickling cucumbers found out they turned into lemon cucumbers. Guess she directed me to those plants. We had so many great times at 12 St Beach. Lost touch for 50 years then reconnected and text almost every day. Visited twice in Tuscon.
Still miss the messages and daily contact. Think of her often. Had lots of laughs.
March 6, 2019
March 6, 2019
The time: The fall of 1960
The place: The East Inn on Chicago's near north side
Across the room was this beautiful girl. After talking, it was soon apparent that her intellect matched her appearance.
We dated off and on for the next decade plus, in Chicago and California, depending on when we were in the same location. in the early 70's we lost contact when Carolynn went to Asia. After many years, we made contact again in 2009 and renewed our relationship via getting together, voluminous hours on the phone, email, cards and letters until recently.
Carolynn was absolutely the most outstanding woman I have ever known. She was a brilliant thinker and writer, perplexing at times, but always honest and on the mark. She was also a very caring, gracious individual who would go to great lengths to help others in any way she could. These traits boded well for her, as was reflected in all she attempted and accomplished in life.
I miss her so much now and will do so over the coming years as well. With her health orientated regimen, I thought she would make it to 100 years of age easily.
The theme here is forever missed, and I join all of the others in saying that I will miss her forever. I will end by saying we laughed, we cried, we fought, we loved. Godspeed, my darling. I love you and always have. Till we meet again.
February 12, 2019
February 12, 2019
I have no words to say.
Anytime when I emailed her, she replied me soon and gave me a long thoughtful letter, that cheered me up. But last year, she did not reply me, so I was worrying. Two years ago I found time to visit US and I really wanted to see her. I had been so busy to take care of my sister and my mother. I had had not time for myself.
Do some of the readers of this page know Carina was working as a part-time English teacher at Hiro-o, Tokyo 45 or 50 years back?
She was so popular at every place.
She was my teacher of English and have been a closed friend. She was not like any other native English teachers. She was honest, powerfull, and sincere. I was working as a secretary for the school head. We worked at the same English school in Tokyo. She, Carolyn, prepared for each class and did not follow the simple directions of teachers' book. Every time she made original teaching materials for each class, using authentic materials and learner-centered teaching style, trying hard to engine the learners' autonomous learning. She remembered all the students names and called the names at greetings or in the class in questioning . Everybody loved to hear her calling their own names. She was the most popular teacher in our school. 
The memories never ends. We enjoyed home parties, walking in Tokyo and tripped to Hakuba.
She told me to come to US. Japanese family relationships were so different from the ones of US and I thought I had to do my responsibility and relayed to move. However when Tokyo Campus of Teachers College, Columbia University was open, I applied and was accepted and I sent my two children to US and Canada and they graduated the colleges there. When I passed the entrance exam of Columbia University, she was very glad.  Studying, researching, and working needed hard work. I never gave up as Carina.
She was doing the most to do the best. 
She was my teacher. I miss her much, much, much.
Rest in peace, Carina.
Fumiko Joyce Kurosawa, from Japan
September 21, 2018
September 21, 2018
Carolynn, it is so hard to believe that you have been gone 4 weeks. I really miss our long talks that we would have over the telephone throughout the years. However, I could hardly get a word in edgewise. Yes, you were quite the talker! It was so disheartening talking on the phone with you while you were in Kiko's since it was up to me to carry on the conversation. You were only able to say yes or no. That must have been so hard for you, not being able to get out what you wanted to say. I am so sorry but happy that you are now free from your pain and able to talk again. I am glad that I was able to visit you in California, Oregon and Arizona. I always lost a few pounds on my visits since you kept me so busy with your honey-do-list and you cooked healthy meals. Thank you! I will miss you until we meet in Heaven. So long Sis, Love, your brother Whitey.
September 2, 2018
September 2, 2018
Carolynn, How lucky heaven is to have you! I am so blessed that you came into my life. I certainly did not know you as long as your classmates and family, but for the time I knew you, you made an impact on me. Your words of encouragement and your friendship has been a blessing beyond compare. You always cracked me up when you came back after shopping with Mike for the reunions - oh how you rolled your eyes! LOL The reunions were so fun and when we got together for lunch (you, JoAnn, Sandy, Mike & me) we always had a great time and a lot of laughs! You will be missed my sweet friend! Until we meet again - Love, Billie
September 2, 2018
September 2, 2018
Written by James Novotny

What a gal! I'll miss the fights we used to have (all good natured); I'll miss the affection I always had for her and sometimes we shared; I'll miss her E-mails, always keeping me up on important stuff (mother Carolyn!); I'm happy that she wrote to me when I was in the Navy, and sent me pictures of some of her modeling jobs; and I'm proud that I knew her.

It seems kinda empty, reminiscing after all these years, wishing that we had even more good times, seen each other more often, and shared those good times with others. So I guess I'll tuck away all I can remember, wish her eternal peace and happiness, and, if she were here now, wish that "flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."
By Jim Novotny
August 31, 2018
August 31, 2018
This wonderful collage of warm memories and beautiful images is a great tribute to "You, my Dear Cousin Carolynn". Yours was a Live Well Lived. Always with purpose, grace and gentle determination. Your unwaivering Love and Loyalty to Friends and Family were your greatest gifts to each of us. Our times together and our many letters are precious reserves that will always be with me.
Miss You My Love.
August 29, 2018
August 29, 2018
I am still in shock that you have passed on dear Carolynn. You did "everything right" in your life style of organic foods, exercise, relationships & love of life. I cherish the weekends you spent at my house in San Diego after your treatments in Tijuana with then Gerson Institute. Had the chance to get to know you better & I was convinced that you were invincible. Go with God...
August 28, 2018
August 28, 2018
Oh my, how I miss our many emails and texts, and how grateful I am for our renewed friendship in the years you lived in Tucson. Our time together was fun, invigorating and always left me hoping our next visit would come soon. Rest In Peace, Carolynn.
August 26, 2018
August 26, 2018
Carolynn, I am sorry that you had to endure such pain at the end of your life but happy you are now in heaven - dancing, creating, organizing, playing with your dogs, practicing Martial Arts, soaking in the mineral waters, growing a beautiful garden and relaxing! Heaven is fortunate to have you. Love, Kathy
August 26, 2018
August 26, 2018
We at Kiko's Cottage were blessed to have taken care of Carolyn the last 2 months of her illness.  It was evident from the number of phone calls, cards, and visitors that she not only lived a full life but she also gave much of herself to her friends, family and community. Even though we did not know Carolyn before her illness, her beautiful spirit, confidence and strength came through as she battelled a terrible disease. It is our privilege to be there for her and we miss her dearly.
Doris McQuaid (Kiko's Cottage)

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Recent Tributes
August 24, 2023
August 24, 2023
I think of Carolynn every day. She was the best friend I ever had. Still feels like a part of me is gone.
July 22, 2020
July 22, 2020
Carolyn is still remembered at Kiko's Cottage.  She was a beautiful women and we miss her.
July 21, 2020
July 21, 2020
Carolynn, you are still missed so very much!! Now you have Mike up there and I hope you two have had a glass of wine together! I miss talking to you. Please take care of my beloved. I miss him very much too!! Love you
Her Life

Carolynns Brief Life Outline - Dates may not be correct

August 26, 2018

Carolynn Janet Ross was born on July 21, 1937 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She lived the first 10 years of her life in Canada, living behind the family store for 5 years and living on their small farm for 5 years. There was no indoor plumbing. They never forgot how cold it was to use the out house during winter! Burrh! In 1947, her parents separated. Her father stayed in Canada but Carolynn, her mom and brother moved to Chicago. She went to Corkery Grade School. In 1956, she graduated from Farragut High School in Chicago.  After HS she worked at a modeling agency.  In the 1970's she went to Japan and worked for Encyclopedia Britannica while she attended the University of Tokyo where she Studied International Business & Martial Arts. She traveled throughout Asia and Europe before coming back to the US in the 1980's. She then lived in AZ until she moved to Northern CA in the 1990's. She was the CEO for a Vanity Phone Number Company in  Northern CA.  She then moved to Bend, Oregon in 2005 and sold pre-fab homes for Palm Harbor. In 2008 she retired.  She moved back to AZ in 2012. Carolynn had many interests, very creative and was an artist. She was very fond of all dogs but German Shepherds were her favorite. She often walked her dogs in Calistoga.  When she wasn't walking her dogs she was feeding the doves. Yes, she loved her doves and they loved her. One of Carolynn's favorite things to do when she lived in CA was visit the Calistoga Spa where she would soak in the hot mineral pools.  She, especially, liked to entertain and really enjoyed helping with the organization of  the Farragut HS reunions.  Carolynn had a full life but she will miss her friends and family as they will miss her. One HS buddy said "Carolynn had a big heart, and we will all miss her. We were fortunate to have had her in our lives." Another HS friend said "She was a kind, gracious and vivacious lady who brought a great deal of joy to so many people. She will be missed." Carolynn was preceded in death by her mother, Roslyn Ruzycki and her father, Leonard Ruzycki. and dogs, Nikki, Bear, Heidi and Remi. Carolynn passed away on Friday, August 24, 2018, at the age of 81. She is survived by her brother, Leonard Ruzycki; sister-in-law, Kathleen Ruzycki; cousins, Leonard & Bev Ross, Diane & John Klarich; Joy & Leonard Mershimer; niece, Charlene Ruzycki; nephews, Michael Ruzycki and Jim Ruzycki; great nephew, Michael Ruzycki; great Niece, Cassidy Ruzycki; friends, Kay Lopez, Aggie Prochaska, Bill Fremer, Bob Loshbough, Charlotte Siverling, George Berg, Gunther Dorth, Jackie Yocherer, Jim Novotny, James Lincoln Vail, Jan Bigler, Jim & Marilyn Prerost, Jo Ann Marik, Lois Danielson, Marlene Seynhoven, Mary Ann Vail, Mike & Billie Nejedly, Norm & Sharon Sirinek, Sandy Peterson, Sheryl Cook, & John & Sue Hornacek.

Thank you for visiting Carolynn's Memorial online. If you post a photo or write something, make sure to click PUBLISH before leaving the page. 

Recent stories
July 21, 2019

Carolyn was always talking about lemon cucumbers. She looked for seed to send me but never was able to find any. 

This spring I bought what I thought was a pickling cucumber plant. As it started to grow I thought it wasn't a cucumber at all. 

Last night I picked and enjoyed eating lemon cucumbers and thought of Carolynn and all the fun times we had in high school and then after 50 years reuniting and visiting in Arizona. 

Sure do miss her. We text often and email a lot. Maybe she directed me to those lemon cucumber plants.  

Falling

March 6, 2019

While Carolynn and I were in Bellingham, WA we made a day trip to nearby Lummi Island. Shortly after arriving, we were informed about a gigantic rock, over 10 feet high, that somehow had made its way down to the beach. We wanted to go and touch it, so as we waded into the water on our way, Carolynn started to slip and while I attempted to catch her, we both slipped and fell into the water in full clothes. We laughed and laughed swirling around. I had a reminder of that moment for the next 6 months on my rear end, due to the rocks beneath us.

August 30, 2018

Carolynn and I were like Laverne and Shirley. We were always up to something. She always had me pick her up from the Airporter when she flew in. One time while everyone was waiting for their luggage,I yelled out “Carolynn, is this your bag? The one with the towels that say Hilton? Yep that’s your bag alright”. She let out a big belly laugh and told me she was going to kill me. We never stopped laughing when we were together. You’ll never be replaced missy. A dear friend

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