Carol Fraser Bacchi

Born to William “Bill” and Elinor Fraser on January 21, 1940, she was a pistol of energy from the beginning and the sunshine in so many of our lives.

Carol was a lover of life. There wasn’t an adventure she wouldn’t be up for unless it was a food adventure as that is where she seemed to draw the line. Turkey and cranberry sauce was a favorite, but a shish kabob was a hard no. She loved taking long drives in the car, often with no real plan but certainly with a lot of fun organically happening. She loved the annual San Diego trip and often swerved along the I-10 to the beat of Disney music while singing along with any of the grandkids that happened to be riding with her. She had a deep and lifelong love of anything Disney from the time she first visited Disneyland in 1955, the year it opened. And let’s not discount her love of shopping and her beloved Nordstrom. She was a proud Nordy card holder for over 40 years and was on a first name basis with many of the staff. She loved to read and pass the books on to anyone needing a good read. She had an infectious laugh and the brightest smile that just lit up any room! Beyond these fun facts, she was a much loved and special lady.

Carol as a friend was unsurpassed in the connection she had with those she chose to have in her life. She was always up for an adventure, whether it be a fun lunch after a day of shopping or a whirlwind and last-minute trip traveling by plane under someone else’s name, praying not to be caught by the airlines. Her circle of friends were her support and spark.

Carol as a sister was one that showed fierce love. She and her sister Dale had a bond that could not be broken, even though Carol was the little sister and tested those limits from time to time, as little sisters can. At age 16, she was blessed to add a “brother” to her life when she met her future Brother-in-law, Jim, who from that day forward always referred to her as “Sis”. Carol loved her sister beyond measure and always looked to her for guidance and advice, even if she sometimes took her own path.

Carol as an aunt was an incredible story. Her many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews fondly referred to her “AC” and have so many hilarious stories to share about their times with her. One of her nephews recently reflected that AC didn’t just stand for Aunt Carol, but also for Always Cool. Where else could you get unlimited French toast made for you, any special request fulfilled, or just get plain spoiled. At AC’s you could!

Carol as a Nurse is something to be revered. At the age of 48, life threw her a curveball. With a challenge ahead of her, she took a brave leap and returned to college to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. While working full-time, during one of the most challenging times in her life, she took on full-time classes and achieved her dream. At age 52, she earned her degree and became a Registered Nurse. It is during this time she found her calling as a Hospice Nurse, which if you know her, does not come as a surprise. She was extremely proud of this accomplishment and worked for Hospice of the Valley, retiring at the young age of 78. The care, compassion and love she showed to her patients and their families over the years was a blessing to them and earned her a special place in heaven.

Carol as a “Nana” makes our hearts melt. She was blessed with two granddaughters and one grandson, whom she loved to the moon and back. She shared her love of everything Disney, the beach in San Diego, and passed down the tradition of Christmas pizzelle and shortbread. She loved hearing and sharing stories about them and their accomplishments. Her face lit up just at the mention of their names and couldn’t get or give enough hugs and kisses from each of her grandkids!

And lastly, but most importantly, Carol as our mom. This is the point where tears flow, but know they are tears of joy, appreciation, and love. Our mom was the best mother God could have given us. In her words, she loved her two daughters so much it hurt. We know what she meant because we felt the same about her. Mom lifted us up, supported us, guided us, and just plain loved us. There was never a question as to whether we were loved or not, because it showed in everything she did. Memories of her being our Girl Scout leader, her involvement as an adult advisor for our many years in the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, and the many other activities we had a whim to do, are precious memories we will hold in our hearts forever. She was all about family and making sure we had those special relationships with our extended family. As we both married, she loved our husbands like they were her own children. In our eyes, she was perfection and love.

It is a sad time as we lay her to rest. She is in our hearts and souls and will carry on for many years to come. Left to carry her memory are her daughters Patti (Andy) Bilbrey and Susan (Jeremy) McCliment. grandchildren Devon (Greg) Carreras, Brianna Bacchi and Conner McCliment, her sister Dale (Jim) Miller, her beloved nieces and nephews (Bill, Debbie, Jim and David Miller and their spouses and children) as well as friends and family too numerous to list, but not forgotten.

We would like to extend a special mention of the incredible staff at The Enclave of Gilbert, where Mom lived for the last two years. Amanda and her outstanding caregiving team, the concierge team, the dining staff, and so many others treated Mom like she was their family. We will be forever grateful to them.

A Graveside service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at 11:00 am. It is there that Carol will be laid to rest and reunited with her mother and father, fulfilling her final wish. May God welcome you and may you sit in his glory, beside all those family and friends that have gone before you and those to follow. Mom, we will hold you in our heart forever and will feel your presence in everything we do.