Carole Klingler

Carole Ann Klingler (Dantico) was born July 20, 1943, in Chicago Heights, Illinois, to John and Josephine Dantico, joining twin sister, Connie, and older brother, John. She graduated from Bloom Township high school in 1961 and worked for several years as an executive assistant for an architectural firm in downtown Chicago. Carole married Peter Klingler in August 1969 and they began their life together in Miami, Florida. After having born all three of their children in Miami, Carole and Pete moved to Tampa in 1979, where they remained until their deaths.

Carole raised three children while Pete traveled often for business. She worked part-time for over a decade at Rutigliano Furniture, a local family-owned furniture store, a job that allowed her to showcase her love of modern interior design. In addition to design, modern art was a passion of Carole’s, and she and Pete were avid supporters of USF Graphicstudio program for many years. Health and fitness were also very important to Carole – she met many of her friends playing tennis at the Carrollwood Country Club and later enjoyed taking long bike rides on Bayshore Boulevard and around Davis Island.

Among her friends and family, Carole was famous for her wit, beauty, class, and, most of all, her strength. Carole faced many health struggles throughout her life – breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, head trauma, and early onset dementia. However, she always rose above her pain to be there for those whom she loved. Carole was a loyal and supportive friend, an amazing and giving mother, and a loving and devoted wife.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Pete, who passed away last year. She is survived by her three children, daughters Connie Klingler and Ashley Sayers (Jay), and son John (Michelle); two grandchildren, Pete and James; twin sister Connie Benni; brother John Dantico (Margaret); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A memorial mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 509 N. Florida Ave. in downtown Tampa on Friday, February 9, at 10 a.m. A reception will immediately follow at Ulele Restaurant, 1810 N. Highland Ave. A private burial will be held at the Klingler Family Cemetery in Manhattan, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or the Arthritis National Research Foundation.