Carolyn R. Corrie's Obituary
Carolyn Rose (Arndt) Corrie Carolyn R. (Arndt) Corrie found peace with our Lord on March 8, 2011. Carolyn was born on April 8, 1918, in Big Rapids to John and Selma Bechaz and lived her entire life in Big Rapids, except during World War II when she lived in Washington State while working in a military factory, building armored tanks for the Womens Auxiliary Army Corps. Returning home, Carrie, as she was known to her family and close friends, became a Michigan Bell telephone operator until her marriage to Selmar (Pete) Arndt on January 30, 1948. She devoted herself to raising their eight children, developing their faith formation, encouraging their quest for knowledge and fostering a love of reading in all of her children. She and Pete believed in the importance of faith, family, patriotism, and a strong work ethic, and they instilled these beliefs in their children. Sundays were devoted to church and visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles and sharing large family dinners with relatives. Patriotism to our country was emphasized. Doing a job to the best of ones ability was the norm and earning ones own way was expected. Carolyn taught her children by doing. Living in a rural setting, she taught her children and grandchildren the science of nature through caring for large flower, fruit and vegetable gardens, sharing her love of birds, and how to cook, sew, knit, ironall the skills needed to become self-sufficient adults. Raising eight children did not keep her busy enough, so she became a 4-H leader and continued her role as a teacher to her family and neighbor children in 4-H for decades. She received numerous 4-H awards for her sewing, knitting and quilt creations. She believed fiercely in the value of education, and in her 50s, returned to school to obtain her GED. Once her children were grown, Carolyn returned to the work force and eventually retired from the food service department at Ferris State University in 1983. She believed in community service and was an American Red Cross blood drive volunteer and Grey Lady at MCMC for more than 30 years, volunteered for RSVP, and also volunteered for baby duty at Riverbend Day Care Center. She practiced her faith in giving to others and was a great role model in the spirit of stewardship for her family. A life-long member of St. Mary Parish, Carolyn was a member of the Parish Council of Catholic Women, volunteering for bake sales, funeral luncheons and the annual Christmas Bazaar at St. Marys. She was also a recipient of the Mary Pine Award for her community service. After the death of her husband, Pete, Carolyn met Garth Corrie and they married in 1993. She and Garth resided at their home in Big Rapids until recent illness separated them. They enjoyed many years traveling to Texas and playing music at area events. They especially were a great help to each other in recent years. Carolyn was fortunate that in her last few years when she could no longer care for herself that she had the devoted care of Linda VanDyke, Denise Keeler, and Fatima Rush as well as family members Kathy Johnson and Autumn Boerma. She was also fortunate to be able to live in a home-like setting at Evergreen Terrace and Curry House in Cadillac where she received devoted and compassionate care. She also benefitted from the compassionate care of Sharon Mumah and Missy McClleland of In-House Hospice and of Mercy Hospice in Cadillac. Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband Pete, her parents John and Selma Bechaz, her brothers Oswald, Joe, George and Aldo Bechaz and her sisters Ida Graboskey, Inez Straub and Elsie (Sam) Guiliano. She is survived by her husband Garth Corrie of Big Rapids and step-sons Barry and Darrell Corrie; her children Kathleen Johnson; Sally Thompson and Patricia (Elwood) Langworthy of Big Rapids; David (Sue) Arndt of Casper, WY; Carol (Rex) Corbett of Wolverine, MI; Richard Arndt of Elko, NV; and Maureen Arndt of Sparta, MI. She is also survived by her grandchildren Angela (Rick) Ososki, Jennifer Johnson, Bruce and Autumn Boerma of Big Rapids; Chris Thompson; Chad Boerma, Puget Sound Naval Base; Nicole (Jim) Willison and Max Corbett of Wolverine, MI; Telisha, MacKenzie, Olivia, and Heidi Arndt of Elko, NV; and Pete Arndt of Casper, WY. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren Kyle, Caden, Sienna, and Saige Ososki; Alexie Schneider, and Peyton and Cole Willison. Carolyn is survived by her sisters Rose Hathaway, Anne McHugh, Margie Bulgarella, and her sisters-in-law that she thought of as sisters, Jane Bechaz and Erma Bechaz. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Janice (Ken) Johnson, Ruby Arndt, and brother-in-law Frank Arndt. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2011 at St. Mary Catholic Church with Father Lam T. Le celebrant .Visitation will be held from 2-4 to 6-8 p.m. on Friday with a prayer vigil at 7:30 p.m. at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Interment will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Memorials may be made to a scholarship in Carolyns name to St. Mary Catholic School or to the American Red Cross of Mecosta County. Share a memory or express a condolence at www.mohnkefuneralhome.com ? ? ? ? Carolyn Rose (Arndt) Corrie Carolyn R. (Arndt) Corrie found peace with our Lord on March 8, 2011. Carolyn was born on April 8, 1918, in Big Rapids to John and Selma Bechaz and lived her entire life in Big Rapids, except during World War II when she lived in Washington State while working in a military factory, building armored tanks for the Womens Auxiliary Army Corps. Returning home, Carrie, as she was known to her family and close friends, became a Michigan Bell telephone operator until her marriage to Selmar (Pete) Arndt on January 30, 1948. She devoted herself to raising their eight children, developing their faith formation, encouraging their quest for knowledge and fostering a love of reading in all of her children. She and Pete believed in the importance of faith, family, patriotism, and a strong work ethic, and they instilled these beliefs in their children. Sundays were devoted to church and visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles and sharing large family dinners with relatives. Patriotism to our country was emphasized. Doing a job to the best of ones ability was the norm and earning ones own way was expected. Carolyn taught her children by doing. Living in a rural setting, she taught her children and grandchildren the science of nature through caring for large flower, fruit and vegetable gardens, sharing her love of birds, and how to cook, sew, knit, ironall the skills needed to become self-sufficient adults. Raising eight children did not keep her busy enough, so she became a 4-H leader and continued her role as a teacher to her family and neighbor children in 4-H for decades. She received numerous 4-H awards for her sewing, knitting and quilt creations. She believed fiercely in the value of education, and in her 50s, returned to school to obtain her GED. Once her children were grown, Carolyn returned to the work force and eventually retired from the food service department at Ferris State University in 1983. She believed in community service and was an American Red Cross blood drive volunteer and Grey Lady at MCMC for more than 30 years, volunteered for RSVP, and also volunteered for baby duty at Riverbend Day Care Center. She practiced her faith in giving to others and was a great role model in the spirit of stewardship for her family. A life-long member of St. Mary Parish, Carolyn was a member of the Parish Council of Catholic Women, volunteering for bake sales, funeral luncheons and the annual Christmas Bazaar at St. Marys. She was also a recipient of the Mary Pine Award for her community service. After the death of her husband, Pete, Carolyn met Garth Corrie and they married in 1993. She and Garth resided at their home in Big Rapids until recent illness separated them. They enjoyed many years traveling to Texas and playing music at area events. They especially were a great help to each other in recent years. Carolyn was fortunate that in her last few years when she could no longer care for herself that she had the devoted care of Linda VanDyke, Denise Keeler, and Fatima Rush as well as family members Kathy Johnson and Autumn Boerma. She was also fortunate to be able to live in a home-like setting at Evergreen Terrace and Curry House in Cadillac where she received devoted and compassionate care. She also benefitted from the compassionate care of Sharon Mumah and Missy McClleland of In-House Hospice and of Mercy Hospice in Cadillac. Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband Pete, her parents John and Selma Bechaz, her brothers Oswald, Joe, George and Aldo Bechaz and her sisters Ida Graboskey, Inez Straub and Elsie (Sam) Guiliano. She is survived by her husband Garth Corrie of Big Rapids and step-sons Barry and Darrell Corrie; her children Kathleen Johnson; Sally Thompson and Patricia (Elwood) Langworthy of Big Rapids; David (Sue) Arndt of Casper, WY; Carol (Rex) Corbett of Wolverine, MI; Richard Arndt of Elko, NV; and Maureen Arndt of Sparta, MI. She is also survived by her grandchildren Angela (Rick) Ososki, Jennifer Johnson, Bruce and Autumn Boerma of Big Rapids; Chris Thompson; Chad Boerma, Puget Sound Naval Base; Nicole (Jim) Willison and Max Corbett of Wolverine, MI; Telisha, MacKenzie, Olivia, and Heidi Arndt of Elko, NV; and Pete Arndt of Casper, WY. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren Kyle, Caden, Sienna, and Saige Ososki; Alexie Schneider, and Peyton and Cole Willison. Carolyn is survived by her sisters Rose Hathaway, Anne McHugh, Margie Bulgarella, and her sisters-in-law that she thought of as sisters, Jane Bechaz and Erma Bechaz. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Janice (Ken) Johnson, Ruby Arndt, and brother-in-law Frank Arndt. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2011 at St. Mary Catholic Church with Father Lam T. Le celebrant .Visitation will be held from 2-4 to 6-8 p.m. on Friday with a prayer vigil at 7:30 p.m. at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Interment will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Memorials may be made to a scholarship in Carolyns name to St. Mary Catholic School or to the American Red Cross of Mecosta County. Share a memory or express a condolence at www.mohnkefuneralhome.com ? ? ? ? ? ?
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