Carol Lucille Loeffel

Carol Lucille Loeffel, 89, was born in Redfield S.D. on Dec. 24, 1921. She moved to Lincoln NE where her family relocated during the dust bowl days. She later attended the Univ. of Nebraska, where she received a degree in home economics and child development. After teaching for a few years, she married "the boy next door" after he returned from WWII. Because of his job, Bill and Carol moved around the country until finally settling in La Grange, IL where they raised thier five children. Carol was a devoted mother and wife. She was active in her church, La Grange Presbyterian, and taught Sunday school to young children for years. She and Bill were very active in their church choir, which they continued to do into their later years. They retired to Bella Vista, Arkansas and lived for 14 years during which time they indulged their passion for travel and visited many places in the US around the world. They especially loved Northern Europe and England. In 2001 they moved to Mt. Dora, FL to be close to family and lived at Waterman Village for several years. Carol was widowed in 2004 when Bill died of cancer after 55 years of marraige. In her grief, her daugther introduced her to watercolor painting to give her something to focus on. It grew into a passion, and a latent talent developed. Carol started painting on a daily basis, and within a few months she had produced a sizable body of work. The part that makes this so remarkable is that Carol had been diagnosed with Alzheimers several years before this. She was living in Arden Courts of Winter Springs and was also encouraged by the activities director to paint everyday. It was she who suggested that we have an art show at Arden Courts to display the beautiful work Carol had created. An invitation was sent out to the public. The Orlando Sentinel and the Oviedo Voice both picked up on the news and ran the stories in August 2005 about Carol and her story. It inspired many people whose family members had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other health disorders. Proceeds from sales during the show went to The Alzheimer's Resource Center. Her work was also published in the Manor Care annual calendar, which has a nation wide distribution, in 2009 and 2010. Carol's dementia progressed to the point where she could no longer paint the way she wanted to, so she stopped. But she was always very proud of her accomplishment. It gave her great joy and satisfaction during a time when she was grieving the loss of her husband and dealing with her failing health issues. Carol's gentle spirit and loving heart inspired those around her until her death. She always had a sweet smile and kind words for her caretakers and loved ones. She is survived by her five children: Cindy Sturla (Winter Springs, FL), Ann Schure (Darien, IL), Sarah Roberts (Palm Harbor, FL), William Loeffel (Peoria, IL), Robert Loeffel (Seattle, WA); two sisters; Adelaide Mastin (Vancouver, WA), Dawn Teague (Austin, TX); six grandchildren, Jenny Sturla, Cara Sturla, David Schure, Kimberly Schure, Mary Carol Loeffel, and Stephanie Swearingian, and two great-grandchildren. We want to thank the wonderful staff at Ardem Courts of Winter Springs for the outstanding care Carol received during the 6 years she lived there. Their love and kindness made her last years very pleasant ones. We also want to thank Vitas Hospice for their wonderful care during her long illness and in the final days of her life. A memorial service is planned on Saturday, June 25 at Deguispe Funeral Home and Crematory in Maitland at 2pm with a reception to follow. Donations can be made in Carol's memory to Alzheimers Resource Dementia Center, 1506 Lake Highland Dr. Orlando, FL 32803, or Vitas Hospice Charitable Fund online at HYPERLINK "http://www.vitascrity" www.vitacharityfund.org. Arrangements are entrusted to DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory 9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida 32751, 407-695-CARE (2273). Please visit www.degusipefuneralhome.com to leave a special condolence

Carol Lucille Loeffel

December 24, 1921 - May 22, 2011