Carol Arlene Larion

Carol Arlene (Nikoden) Larion left this life to be with her Lord, Jesus, on Thursday, August 21, 2025, surrounded by her family. Carol was born in Lincoln Park, Michigan, on February 13, 1940. On June 26, shortly after graduating high school, she married her high school sweetheart, Larry Larion. Carol and Larry were blessed with six beautiful children and five amazing grandsons. The couple eventually moved to Southern California, where, among other things, they owned and ran a restaurant that was a local breakfast favorite, Beefy's. Carol's beloved husband of 31 years passed away at the young age of 51 in 1988. Carol was blessed again and found love with an earth angel, Jeffery Schoonard. They married on September 24, 2004, and spent 20 happy years together.

Carol was a faithful Christian and a member of Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Encinitas, California. She spent many years teaching CCD and RCIA and later became a Master Catechist, Eucharistic minister, and member of the Altar Society.

Carol found joy in raising her children and connecting with friends and family. She loved supporting her kids' athletic pursuits and was always there on game day or during competition. Carol danced ballet for years in her youth and with the Happy Tappers in her later years. She served her community through her membership in the Elks and through her work with her Church.

Carol was preceded in death by her father, John Nikoden; mother, Mildred (Nass) Nikoden; husband, Larry Larion; son, David Larion; daughter, Clarise Larion; and her husband, Daniel Green; son-in-law, Robert Bryan; and Jeffrey Schoonard. She is survived by daughters, Camille Bryan, and Catherine Larion and her husband Doug; sons, John Larion and Father Steven Larion; grandson James Bryan and his wife Nicole Bryan; grandson Joel Bryan; grandson Jonathan Bryan and his wife Kelsey Bryan; and grandsons Jordan Williams and Curran Williams; step children, Greg Schoonard and wife Jan, Dawn Saborio and her husband Walt, and Scott Schoonard; step grandchildren, Jennifer, William, Alexis, Victoria, Devin and Shayla.

The Funeral Vigil will be on Monday, September 8, at 6:00 pm. The Rosary will be on Tuesday, September 9, at 10:00 am. Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 10:30 am at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Father Steven Larion will officiate the Funeral Mass. Immediately following the Mass, there will be a Celebration of Life gathering in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory to the American Diabetes Association, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or Parkinson's Foundation.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Arbor Day Foundation