Carol Ann Schroeder

She was born June 30, 1951 in Lafayette, IN.

After a childhood mostly spent on a family farm in the Midwest, Carol moved to Brandon, FL during her junior year in high school when her father, Earl, earned a professorship at the University of Florida. Her move to Florida eventually led her to attend the University of South Florida where she discovered her passion for teaching and graduated with BA and MA degree in Special Education/ Learning Disabilities.

Following university, Carol began her more than thirty-year career as an educator of children with learning disabilities. Her career exemplified the qualities of selflessness, persistence, and compassion that made Carol such a beloved teacher, mother, and wife. She found the challenge of assisting her students overcome the frustrating difficulties associated with dyslexia and other learning disorders deeply rewarding as her work helped to expand the life opportunities available to countless students.

Steve Schroeder, her devoted husband of 38 years, and her two children, Stephen and Katie, survives her. Carol was also the loving grandmother to two wonderful grandchildren, Brooks and Lyla O'Malley, and three grand-dogs, Tobie, Riggins and Lyla. While her father, Earl, passed away in 2000, her mother, Lillis, her brother Larry and her sister CeCe, also survives her.

Carol strongly believed that her family was the greatest gift granted to her, and she dedicated her life to nurturing this gift. During a life rich with experience of the people and places of the world, marked by frequent happiness and occasional sorrow, she always found family to be her principle source of direction and joy. Carol wanted to thank her family for all of the love, kindness and support that was shown to her. She felt fortunate to have shared an intimate bond with every member of her family.

Carol's journey also afforded her the opportunity to have a life filled with many friends who revealed to her the true value of friendship as they buoyed her spirit with their laughter, assistance and constancy throughout the period of her final illness.

Lastly, God gave Carol the best gift of all- a deepening of her faith that lent her the courage and strength to face life's trials and struggles. Carol's faith in God focused her appreciation . And as Carol approached God's grace during her final months, she found her heart overfilled with appreciation for the many blessings and gifts she received from Him during her life.