Carolyn Marie Worden

Carolyn Marie Worden, age 76, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. Carolyn was born June 3, 1942, in Detroit, the daughter of Stanley and Gertrude (Sommers) Duczkowski, and grew up on the family farm in Johannesburg, Michigan. She lived/worked in Lansing, MI for over 50 years.

Surviving are her son, Sanford (Denise) Worden; sister, Geraldine Gill; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Leland "Bucky" Worden; and brother, CPO Richard T. (Sommers) Duczkowski. Carolyn retired from the State of Michigan Court of Appeals where she worked as a Legal Assistant. She loved gardening, cooking, and bird watching, and spent many hours in the woods enjoying nature, and volunteering at the MSU Horticultural Gardens as an Advanced Master Gardener. She was an avid sports fan rooting for the Spartans, Red Wings, Tigers, and Lions. She and Bucky had season tickets for MSU football for over 30 years.

Carolyn loved to travel and saw a lot of the United States, Canada, and much of Europe. Some of her favorite places were Alaska, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany and most of all northern Michigan.

Carolyn loved her boys, Bucky and Sanford, more than anything in the world. She made many sacrifices to provide a nice life for them. They were blessed to have such a devoted mom. She was very independent and private and behind her “tough” exterior was a hurting heart but a heart of gold. Because she kept her hurts and disappointments to herself she could sometimes be abrupt with people rather than appear vulnerable. But deep down, she loved her family and friends and valued those relationships. She was also very appreciative to those who helped her over the last few years of her life with her care, household chores and errands.

At Carolyn’s request cremation has taken place. She also requested that there be no funeral or memorial service so we simply ask that you share a favorite memory on her tribute page at www.grlansing.com and when you are with friends raise a glass in her honor. She will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

Thanks for everything mom. Give Bucky a big hug for us. We miss and love you both so very much.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Special Olympics Michigan, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859, phone: (800) 644-6404 or to the Capital Area Down Syndrome Association (www.cadsa.org), 808 W. Lake Lansing Rd, Ste. 101, East Lansing, MI 48823, phone: (517) 333-6655. If you decide to make a contribution we ask that you make it in the names of Carolyn and Bucky Worden. Thank you.