Carol Margaret Fishwick Giorda

October 21, 1941 – January 11, 2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Carol Margaret (Fishwick) Giorda of Austin, Texas, on January 11th, 2025, at the age of 83. Carol was born on October 21st, 1941 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Robert Marvin and Grace Elizabeth Fishwick. The family later moved to the small town of Steelville, Missouri, where Carol grew up.

Before even starting school, Carol announced that she would be a piano teacher when she grew up. Incredibly, she did just that. By junior high she was the organist for her church and soon after began her decades long teaching career.

After graduating high school as valedictorian of her class, Carol went on to study music at the University of Tulsa. While there, she performed in band, orchestra, and choir, where she met her first husband William Sanford “Bill” Giorda (d. 2017). Together they moved to Austin, where Carol pursued a masters degree at the University of Texas. Carol and Bill had one child, their daughter Marie Elizabeth Giorda, whom they adored. Though the relationship did not last, the two always remained friends.

In the early 1980s, Carol met her beloved husband Dean Henry Weisner. The two enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors. They were together until Dean’s passing in 2023.

Always quick to find beauty in the world, Carol was an avid photographer. She photographed professionally during her early years in Austin and for a year in Australia. She inherited her parents’ love for arts and crafts and was adept at decorative needlework, always stitching on a project … or three. But her greatest passion was always bringing music to the world—singing in choir, accompanying soloists, thoughtfully selecting the perfect music for any occasion. Above all she loved her students, who were blessed with her indomitable patience, cheerful understanding, and deep empathy.

Carol was renowned for her lighthearted nature and keen sense of humor. Ever the storyteller, she had a tremendous capacity to bring joy to others. She will always be remembered with much love by her daughter Marie, her brother Robert James “Butch” Fishwick, nieces Rebecca (Fishwick) Fish and Carol Fishwick, and a long list of extended family, cherished friends, and treasured students. She also leaves behind Shadow, her 8 year old poodle who is now missing her favorite person.

A Burial Ceremony will be held at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery (2800 Hancock Drive, Austin, TX) on Friday, March 28th at 1:00 p.m. followed by a Memorial Service and Reception at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m. (3208 Exposition Boulevard, Austin, TX).

As we mourn Carol’s passing, we take solace in knowing that her spirit lives on in the countless lives she touched with her patient kindness as a teacher and the beautiful music she so generously gave the world.