Mrs. Carol Linda Dudas

Mrs. Carol L. Dudas, age 61, of Sterling Heights, Mich., died October 1, 2010 at home. She was born July 2, 1949 in Detroit, Mich. Beloved wife of Daniel Dudas. Cherished mother of Melissa Martin, Steven Dudas, Ryan Dudas, Douglas Dudas and Harold Dudas. Dear sister of Jean Clark, Mary Dougal, Shirley Serra and Teresa Vacante. Proud grandmother of Andrew Harrison, Jeremy Harrison, Allye Dudas, Bianka Dudas, Julia Dudas and Zachary Dudas. Loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. Carol is predeceased by her parents, Eddie and Roxanna Hooten and daughter, Caryn Martin. Visitation, today, 4-9 p.m. and Wednesday, 1-9 p.m. at Resurrection Funeral Home, 40800 Hayes Road, Clinton Township. Instate 10 a.m. with Funeral Service October 7, 2010, 11 a.m. Burial White Chapel, Troy, Mich.

To Mrs. Carol Linda Dudas, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Carol, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Carol really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Carol was born on July 2, 1949 at Trumbull General Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Her parents were Eddie and Roxanna Hooten. Carol was raised in Detroit, Michigan. Even as a child, Carol had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

Always a good playmate, Carol was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Carol managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Carol was raised with four sisters. She had two older sisters, Jean and Mary, and two younger sisters, Shirley and Teresa.

All of Carol's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Carol experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in baseball and hockey.

Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Carol was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Carol simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Carol, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Carol's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Carol attended Murray Wright High School in Detroit, Michigan she left high school in the 11th grade due to family illness. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was math. The teacher she enjoyed all of her teachers.

Carol never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Carol to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Carol delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Carol was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Carol utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were Jimmy and Arlene Graham. Later in life, she became friends with Clois Pendergraft, Diane McNeal, Diane Lambert, Margaret Ann Wilder, and Bev and William Waltimeir. Carol loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Carol very easy to approach. On July 24, 1999 Carol exchanged wedding vows with Daniel Dudas at Loving Hearts Wedding Chapel of Shelby Township, Michigan. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Carol related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Carol was blessed with five children, one daughter Melissa "Missy", and four sons, Steven, Ryan, Douglas, and Harold "Harry". She was also blessed with six gandchildren, Andrew, Jeremy, Allye, Bianka, Julia, and Zachary. Carol had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Carol's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Carol had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

Carol had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Carol liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Carol was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Carol's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Carol as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was a homemaker.

Carol enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Carol liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were crosswords, animal lover, motorcycle riding, bowling, avid collector, playing cards, watching movies, and going to Flatrock Speedway. Carol was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Carol felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Carol loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Carol relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Carol never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Carol played baseball and hockey. Recreational sports included bowling, softball, and horseshoes. Carol was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were baseball, football, and horse racing.

Carol had an endless appetite for new and different activities. She was always ready to join in the fun and add her flair and energy to an organization. Because of her personality, her humor, and her ability to get along with everyone, Carol's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which she belonged. Throughout her later years, Carol was an active member of the Womens Bowling Association.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Carol recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member New Testament Christian Church for two years.

Living life in the fast lane suited Carol just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Indiana, Sturgis, Mackinac, and Florida.

Carol was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Carol's favorites was Natasha, a German Shepherd dog. They were best friends for 15 years. Her family was rounded out by her birds, Buddy and Sassy, dogs, Gotti, Sarge, Sheba, Capone, and Kaiah.

Carol passed away on October 1, 2010 at home in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Carol fought a brave battle against cancer. She is survived by her husband Dan, children, Melissa, Steven, Ryan, Douglas, and Harold, sisters, Jean, Mary, Shirley, and Teresa, grandchildren, Andrew, Jeremy, Allye, Bianka, Julia, and Zachary, and numerous nieces and nephews. Services were held at Resurrection Funeral Home in Clinton Township, Michigan on October 7, 2010. Carol was laid to rest in White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, Michigan.

Carol brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Mrs. Carol Linda Dudas lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.