Date of Death: August 29, 2018
Service Details
The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until time of the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at Hohner Funeral Home with Pastor Jerry Solis officiating. Private interment will be held at Prairie River Cemetery.
Obituary Notice
Carol Jo Lopez-Pokorny, age 59, of Richland formerly of Three Rivers passed away on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center after a three year battle with cancer. She was born on April 4, 1959 in Orange County, CA the daughter of Raymond and Josephine (Quintero) Lopez.
Carol was employed at Parker Hannafin Corporation for several years. She was also a faithful member of Celebrate One and Riverside Church of Three Rivers where she garnered many friendships. She was a jack of all trades and cherished spending time with her children, grandchildren, and friends. Carol was best described as a superhuman from her incredible ability to push her body past the limit, to her unconditional love to help anyone and everyone around her. She will always be remembered for her strength, her faith, and undeniable fire. Carol will be forever missed and irreplaceable.
She was preceded in passing by her father, Raymond Lopez; husband, David A. Pokorny; and siblings Mark and Lisa Lopez.
Surviving to cherish Carol’s memory are children, Nicole (Bryan) Stuck, David (Amber) Pokorny Jr., Jessica (Aaron) Duncan, and Melissa Pokorny; mother, Josephine Lopez; siblings, Michael Lopez, Richard Lopez, and Pamela Makepeace; grandchildren, Matthew, Ethan, Jacob, Andrew, Caydence, David III, and Valerie; her grand pets “furbabies”, Reese, Mr. Rogers, and Sofie.
Additional Information
Memorial donations in memory of Carol may be directed to the family c/o David Pokorny. Envelopes are available at Hohner Funeral Home.
Please Leave Your Condolences
When your condolences are submitted they will not display until approved by the Hohner staff for appropriateness out of respect for their memory. They should appear within 24 hours or less. Thank you for your understanding.
Psalm: 121
This is my Eulogy for Carol today. Undeniable fire is the best way to describe her.
I could lie to you and say I will keep this short, but I have a microphone so just sit back and enjoy. Carol loved to laugh so that is what we are going to focus on with just a few of the funny stories that endeared her to so many. Carol had three loves in her life. God, family and food,so much so that is where we shall start. The morning crew for inspection was Carol, Tina and myself at 5 and Kevin at 6. Our mornings were like any other workplace with the “good mornings” and “how was your night.” The only difference for us was trying to figure out what the heck was Carol cooking? As soon as you opened the door at 5 it would hit you. Sometimes eggs but normally it was either a grass-fed burger or a steak that she would cook just short of becoming ash. All you could smell for the first two hours was burnt meat.
Carol also was very much in love with donuts. On Saturdays,typically whoever the Quality supervisor was would bring donuts in for the team. Even Chris would bring donuts in and almost everyone knows how cheap he is. If you didn’t know that just ask him what a Dutch Big Mac is. The donuts would hit the table and Carol would do a lap around the building to let the rest of the team know they were here. Every time Carol would go for the powdered sugar donuts. By the time she finished there was white powder everywhere. You would see a pile of powdered sugar at her feet on the break room floor. She even got it on her ear somehow once. It was truly amazing how it really got everywhere.
I will leave off the food for the rest of this and not bring up her 6 lockers and 2 refrigerators she used for food. A year or 2 years ago, I can’t remember, Carol was going to visit family in Texas and the inspection room got together and took donations from everyone to help with her plane ticket. I think we got just over $700 and she opened the card and began to read it. She ran out of the room very fast so, we are all there giving each other funny looks. Sally was up in the bathroom washing her hands when Carol stormed in balling her eyes out. Sally asked her what was wrong, but she couldn’t get anything out. Sally thought something horrible had happened until Karen came up and filled Sally in and brought Carol back down. She was trying to thank us all but still couldn’t get anything out. That was when I quipped “mark it on your calendar, Carol is speechless for the first time ever.”
The thing I will never forget is how people at work found out that Sally and I were dating. I was sitting next to Kevin with Tina behind him. I had told them I was dating someone, and they were not satisfied with me saying I was not at liberty to give them a name. Tina then asked if it was someone from work to which I replied Yes. Then they both perked up and started to get animated demanding the name. Carol came out of nowhere with “Is it Sally? It’s Sally, right? Apparently, my poker face was not very good because the gig was up. It’s something that I know Sally and I will always remember because things really took off from there for us. I am going to let you in on one of Carol’s secrets that I discovered just after this moment occurred. Those big headphones she had on were rarely ever on. She was just eaves droppings more then half the time. That’s how she got all the good gossip. Now you all are thinking about what she may have heard. Casey, I would think twice about going outside in the next thunderstorm.
Sally has been worrying about me all week and trying to pry out the feelings. I would go down in the garage or pull out my computer and work on some homework. So, Sally, here comes the good stuff and what you’ve been waiting for. This last week sucked. It really, really sucked. A lot of us lost our work mom last week. Carol was the one who was on top of everyone’s birthdays. She would run around and organize things for them and get a few of us to bring something in. She would put up a sign for them and do whatever she could do to make it special for them. She was the one that would give you a hug or a smack on the back depending on what you needed. Normally, I got smacked and earned it.
It’s been a terribly sad week. Carol was far too good of a person to have to endure and suffer as she had with her disease.I believe she was put in our lives to teach us. She was a stubborn lady with absolutely no quit in her. If there is one thing everyone should take away from Carol, it is how to deal with adversity. As I was writing this, I literally caught myself humming the Rocky theme which gave me a good chuckle. Seriously though, Carol was pound for pound one of the toughest people in the world. It was inspiring to watch the tenacity she had in her fight and how she never lost her smile or desire to do for others. Carol treated everyone like family and cared for them as such. There is a big void in our Parker family now, but we are all better for having Carol in our lives. Carol was loved by many and will be greatly missed. I know I will see you again and by then I will probably have earned at least a few more smacks.
I am going to end with a verse that we have been working with Morgan on for school. It describes Carol’s life perfectly. Colossians 1 10: Live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Carols presence will be missed by all who knew her.
My deepest sympathies are being to sent to the family and friends of Carol. May Gods abundant love and grace surround and keep you all.
My deepest condolences and prayers are being sent to family and friends of Carol.
I was very touched by her touching and brave post on Facebook just days before her passing. She exemplified her kindess, love for her family and deep faith.
Rest in peace dear cousin.
I’m grateful that Carol can finally really REST in Abba’s arms. She definitely leaned into the finish line.
During this time of grief, may the Lord give your family His Peace in knowing that CAROL is in the arms of her Heavenly Father.
Dear Mel, Jessica and family. I am so sorry to learn of your mother’s passing. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Much love to you.
L Murray
I shall never forget Carol Jo as she inspired me to live life regardless of physical limitations. She was tough and steadfast right to the end despite her illness. I will miss her smile, sense of humor and talks. A little woman with a giant attitude. May God smile upon her and keep Carol Jo and her family in his good graces
Carol had such a great smile and laugh. That’s what I remember the most about her.
So sorry to here of your loss! I am sure she will truly be missed. Are thoughts and Prayer are with you and your family!! I worked with Carol at Eaton for several years. So sad to here I did not even Know she was sick.
We love u and will forever CHERISH THE DEAR MEMORIES.
I’ve known Carol for several years now. I attended Riverside Church with her and we both served at the Kalamazoo Mission together several times. Carol blessed me so with her smile and giggle which she shared so freely. She always made me feel there was hope even when she herself went through times in her life where hope seemed bleak. God bless you my Christian sister. So thankful to have been blessed by you!
My prayers are with Carol and her family and mother auntie jo. We had great memories when we were growing up
Carol Jo was a beautiful soul. I never realized how much pain she was in from her cancer, because her smile and beautiful eyes always shone through. Ever helpful, she truly cared about others and she worked hard in all she did. I have so much respect for her. Heaven gained a unique lady, and I will miss seeing her. Until later, dear lady!