Caren Sue Lefevre

Caren Sue Lefevre, age 64, died at home surrounded by her family on Saturday, August 29, 2015. Loving wife of Steven Ray, and mother of Steven M, Kim (Ro), Andrew, and Cliff, and beloved grandmother of Amelia and JJ. Her caring heart will never be extinguished. Friends may call 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, September 1 at the SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST CHAPEL 1051 E. Johnstown Rd. (at Beecher Rd.) Gahanna. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 2 at Stonybrook United Methodist Church 485 Cherry Bottom Road, Gahanna. Robert L. Thomas, Pastor and Nicole R. Baker, Pastor officiating.

Caren grew up on an 80 acre farm in Norwalk, Ohio with her brother John, sisters Cathy and Connie and step brothers Buck and Ron. The kids worked hard, having to do chores before school. They tended to the garden, took care of the pigs and enjoyed their pet goat. Her mother, Alice Iceman, passed away when she was two. Caren was able to play her mother's trombone in high school. After graduating, she followed her best friend, Judy, to St. Vincent Nursing School in Toledo, Ohio. Caren was a dedicated nurse for over 40 years. She met her husband, Steve, while working at St. Vincent's. They married October 14, 1977 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Toledo.

Little Stevie was born the next summer. The family moved to Gahanna in 1980 where three more children followed, all born in May, two years apart. Caren liked to joke that she had the month of March all to herself until her two grandchildren were born in March. She didn't want to share her birthday month. Caren and Steve devoted the next 20 years to raising their children and being active members of Stonybrook United Methodist Church. Steve, Kim, Andy and Cliff have fond memories of their mom taking them to dance, art, music and sports and always being there when they needed their mom. Caren was so proud of her children: Steve has a Bachelor's in anthropology and currently works at Highlights for Children. Kim has a Bachelor's in social work and works at an Audiologist's office in NY. Andy has his Master's in education and teaches in Wilmington. Clifford expresses his creative spirit by helping people with creative culinary choices at Trader Joes, making jewelry and music.

In recent years Caren continued to lead her small group from church, coordinate the blood mobile at Stonybrook, take on new roles at Mt. Carmel East, and spend quality time with her family. She and Steve loved touring gardens, staying at BandBs, and cheering on OSU football and basketball teams and were big fans of the Columbus Crew. And of course, she loved to dote on her grandchildren. Singing and dancing with them gave her so much joy. She loved being their "Mimi".

Caren also took several mission trips. She went to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina with the United Methodist Church. She spent over 10 years volunteering for Appalachia Service Project, rebuilding homes with the youth of the church. She once went to Honduras with Church Building Ministries. She was asked to go so her sister's in-laws could take their granddaughter. They needed another female so my mom went, even though she didn't know the young lady. More recently she volunteered on a medical mission trip with the organization called Heart to Honduras. She was so touched by the people she met there. If you would like to donate in Caren's memory, please consider doing so at www.hth.org or by mail to Heart to Honduras, PO Box 38, Xenia, OH 45385.

Thank you to the fifth floor nursing students, and the Mt Carmel East Angels who were there the whole week to help the transition of this angel.