Carol Ann Hill

Carol Ann Hill, 86, passed away peacefully at her home in Carmel, Indiana, on May 17, 2026. Carol was born on November 23, 1939, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Edward and Dorothy Gass, and was the youngest of five children. She was preceded in death by her husband, James (Jim) Stephen Hill, siblings Edward (Ed) Gass Jr., Patricia (Patty) Norman, and Dorothy (Dottie) Sylvester, and is survived by her sister, Rosemary (Susie) Johnson. Carol was a devoted mother to Jim (Kimberly) Hill, Susan (Joe) Barrett, Jenne (Scott) Moore, and Christine (Jody) Werner, all of Carmel, Indiana. She was a proud and loving “Granny” to fifteen grandchildren and recently delighted in becoming great-granny to three precious great-grandchildren. We are all so grateful we were able to surround Mom with love during her final days on Earth.

Mom grew up in Indianapolis on Washington Boulevard in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood where she formed many lifelong friendships and memories. She attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic School and later graduated from St. Agnes Academy. Mom was a devout lifelong Catholic whose deep faith was reflected in every aspect of her life. As a young girl, Mom loved swimming, water skiing, kickball, and spending time with friends and family, especially her best friend Ellie. Her summers were spent at Riviera Swim Club and Lake Wawasee, which became some of her favorite places. One of her proudest accomplishments was swimming across Lake Wawasee. She later passed her love of the water on to all of us—teaching us to water ski, drive the fishing boat, and even catch turtles in the channels at Lake Wawasee.

At just 14 years old, she met Dad, beginning a love story that would shape the rest of her life. Wanting to remain close to Dad, she later attended Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri. Mom and Dad were married on July 28, 1963, and were thankful to be able to celebrate their 62nd anniversary last July. In the early years of their marriage, she taught second grade at her alma mater, St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, providing steady support while Dad pursued his dream of becoming a physician. In her free time, Mom enjoyed playing bridge and euchre with their high school and college friends.

A few children and a few years later, they moved to Fort Hood, Texas, where Dad served as an active-duty physician in the U.S. Army. After his service—and the arrival of one more child—they settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where their youngest was born. There, they became members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and lived on Prange Drive, choosing a home close enough so that we could walk to school every day, rain or shine (or snow)! We loved walking home for lunch, where Mom always had our lunch spreads ready —her version of the “four essential food groups”: a sandwich, chips, fruit, and a treat (all on top of an unfolded napkin). She took care of all of our needs with steady, practical love that made our home feel cared for in every way. Prange Drive gave Mom and Dad not only a wonderful place to raise their family, but also a close-knit neighborhood where Mom could sit and visit with neighbors while we rode our bikes everywhere around Southwood Park, and played kickball and kick the can in the street in front of our house. As long as we were home and inside before the streetlights came on, she let us spend hours outside. In truth, she rarely just sat—she was always moving, always taking care of something. She had a genuine love for home decorating and design. She spent countless hours with our neighbor, an interior designer, transforming rooms throughout our home. Over the years, all four of us got to know the staff at the local furniture shops, and paint and wallpaper stores, as we often tagged along with Mom on errands.

She kept our home spotless and made sure a home-cooked dinner was on the table at 6pm sharp—no hats, no sweatshirts, and no phone calls during dinner (phones were still on the wall at this time). She instilled a strong work ethic in all four of us that carried us into our adult lives. She ran the household in every sense of the word. You could find her every morning drinking coffee in her robe balancing her checkbook and never missing an entry in her financial ledger. She also took time to teach us how to cook, sharing recipes and giving an annual “live tutorial” on how to make homemade stuffing the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving—a tradition we all came to cherish as we began hosting Thanksgivings of our own. Mom had a deep love for the holidays and poured herself into making them special for all us children, and later for her grandchildren, creating memories that we all cherish.

Later in life, Mom encouraged Dad to move from Ft. Wayne to Carmel to be closer to their four children and grandchildren. Dad was able to continue his passion and work more “normal” hours at Riley Hospital, while Mom continued to enjoy her passion for home design and working in the yard. She created traditions that became the heart of our family life—baking Thanksgiving rolls and Christmas cookies with the kids, trips to the Indianapolis Zoo and the children’s museum, attending grandchildren’s sporting events, and showing up for “Special Persons Day” at school, often having to divide her time between several grandchildren at the same school. She never missed a chance to be there, and those moments are memories we all cherish.

Aside from their children and grandchildren, Mom and Dad adored their dogs—Captain, Queenie, Cocoa, Riley, Vegas, and Darco. We loved living so close and seeing them walk the dogs together. It’s no surprise these furry friends were treated like royalty, especially the ones later in their life. They truly had the best of everything, including rotisserie chicken in their food bowls and priority seating on the couch—as long as there was a cover in place. They went everywhere with Mom and Dad, often joining them on errands, and it wasn’t unusual to see Darco’s head hanging out the car window on trips home from Kroger on Smokey Row.

Like Dad, Mom was an avid fan of all sports, but basketball was at the top —her favorite teams were the Pacers and IU. We can all safely say that nothing compared to the way she followed the Pacers, rarely letting anything interrupt a chance to watch Reggie Miller or Rik Smits play. Later after Gainbridge Fieldhouse was built, they purchased Pacer season tickets and were able to attend many games in person. She shared her love of sports with her children and grandchildren and spent many hours supporting them at their games and matches —baseball, football, basketball, volleyball, track, tennis, lacrosse, and cross country—always cheering from the sidelines.

Mom remained a caretaker at heart, even as Alzheimer’s slowly changed her world. She battled Alzheimer's for nearly a decade, while Dad lovingly (and patiently!) cared for her at home, with occasional support from Joy’s House so he could run errands or take a short break. He eventually moved Mom to Story Cottage in August 2023, when he could no longer safely care for her at home. Thankfully, it was only a short walk from his house, allowing him to remain by her side every day until he passed. At Story Cottage, Mom made many new friends, and before long, her beloved dogs and grandchildren were lovingly replaced with stuffed animals and baby dolls she cared for deeply. She laughed often, smiled easily, and, for perhaps the first time in her life, truly allowed herself to slow down—finding joy in Disney movies, crafts, music, and the simple routines of each day. Her love for life, Dad and her family remained steadfast until her final days.

Visitation for Carol will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 from 5-7 PM at Leppert Mortuary - Carmel Chapel, 900 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, Indiana. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 11 AM at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 14598 Oak Ridge Rd., Carmel, Indiana.