Carol Lindstrom

Born December 15, 1941, in Shelley, Idaho, to parents Rand and Norma Wardell. Died March 11, 2009, at home in Seattle. Carol is survived by her beloved husband of 45 years, Arne, their daughter Lisa and her husband Neil Snyder of Seattle, her sister Ginger Wardell of Buckley, her uncle and aunt Wayne and Charla Sant of Richland, and numerous cousins, extended family and friends.

Carol was a 1960 graduate of Edmonds High School and also attended the University of Washington, where she studied art and joined Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, and the Cornish School of the Arts, where she studied ballet. She and Arne were married August 24, 1963, and made their first home in Edmonds and then lived for almost 30 years in Ballard, where they raised their daughter.

Carol was a passionate and devoted volunteer, starting with her work as District Chairwoman for the March of Dimes. She later was very active in the PTA, first at North Beach Elementary School, where she won the Golden Acorn Award, in recognition of her dedication and service to children and youth. At Whitman Middle School she was a two-term PTSA president, and there she helped spearhead the Clothing Bank at Oak Lake Elementary School to help clothe immigrant children from Southeast Asia. She was also president of the Ballard PTA Consortium. Carol was dedicated to social justice and to standing up for what is right. She didn't wait for someone else to take on a project when she saw a need; she did it.

She was also an invaluable partner of her husband Arne in business and real estate. Carol was a fabulous gourmet cook who loved meticulously planning dinners and lunches for friends and family. She loved animals - especially cats - and always had at least one very loved cat in the house. She is also survived by her cats Charlie Chaplin and Little Sister.

Although we grieve her loss, we are all better people for having had her in our lives. She was a smart, selfless and beautiful woman who brought so much joy and goodness to people around her.

In lieu of flowers, donations to one of Carol's favorite charities would be greatly appreciated: Doctors Without Borders (www.doctorswithoutborders.org), First Place School (www.firstplaceschool.org) or Pasado's Safe Haven (www.pasadosafehaven.org), in keeping with her commitment to social justice, education and animal rescue.

The family would like to thank the staffs of Columbia Lutheran Home and Swedish Hospice Services, and especially the wonderful caregivers from Club 24 Senior Living Services, who cared for Carol in her final days at home.

A memorial service will be held at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home on March 28, 2009 at 12Noon. Please sign the online guestbook at www.washelli.com