Carole Lanier

CAROLE LANIER Carole Jean Asendorf Lanier, age 76, of Sylvania Township, died on Sunday, July 8, 2018, at Regency Hospital, Toledo, following a lengthy and slow partial recovery from extensive abdominal surgery on June 1. Carole was born in Toledo on February 8, 1942 the daughter of Elizabeth Brown Asendorf and Paul Asendorf. She grew up living on Joffre Avenue and attended Nathan Hale Elementary School and then DeVilbiss High School, graduating as a proud member of the DHS Class of 1960. After high school, she was first employed on the office staff of Ottawa Hills Memorial Park and the in the executive offices of Peoples Jewelry Company, Toledo. In 1967, Carole began her long tenure in the Vital Statistics office of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, beginning as an office clerk. She worked her way up through more responsible positions until she ultimately became Registrar of Vital Records. She prided herself in being the head of an office staff that was courteous and helpful to the general public and also to the funeral directors who regularly did business with Vital Records. Carole loved to travel and sightsee. She enjoyed many driving vacations with her good friend the late Kenneth Pacer, especially a trip up the Atlantic coast and through New England. She loved visiting New Orleans and the Southeast, spending time with friends in the Florida Panhandle and in Arizona and taking a slow cruise up the inland waterways of Alaska and on to Denali National Park. Carole was an early and staunch advocate for womens rights. She participated in the Womens Strike for Equal Rights March in Washington, D.C., in 1970. She was a member of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and was president of the Toledo Chapter of NOW in the 1970s. Throughout her life, Carole was and advocate for animal welfare. She was the mommy to a long string of household pets, mostly strays or abandoned shelter pets, having a total of two dogs and three cats living with her at one point. She was a supporter of numerous national and local animal-welfare organizations. She was for several years the president of the Toledo Chapter of United Humanitarians and a generous donor to and supporter of Paws and Whiskers Cat Shelter in Toledo. Carole was a voracious reader. She loved music, acquiring an extensive library of books and CDs. She enjoyed attending performances of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. She surrounded herself with original artwork and beautiful art objects. As increasing health issues reduced her stamina and mobility, she more and more relished the peace, solitude, and beauty of her summer home on South Lake Leelanau in Northern Michigan, whether from her deck overlooking the water or inside from her living room. Carole was married to the late Henry Lanier until his passing. Her two children, Karen and John (Rocky), survive. She was predeceased by her brother Robert. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her children and their families and loved watching them mature. Karen (Dennis McCarthy) grandson, Ryan McCarthy. Ryan and his wife Annie are the parents of Caroles great-grandsons Andrew and Lucas. Caroles granddaughters are Meghan (J.J. Simpson) and Elizabeth (Karl) DeBoer. John and his wife Angie are the parents of Caroles grandson, Ben. Carole is also survived by the last of her dear household pets, the sometimes reclusive but exceedingly affectionate Maxfield P. Cat, a Maine Coon who came to live with her as a foundling more than 15 years ago. She is also survived by her long-time significant other/life partner Eden Feldstein. Services are private pursuant to Caroles wishes. Memorial contributions are suggested to Paws and Whiskers Cat Shelter (32 Hillwyck Dr., Toledo, OH 43615), Toledo.