Obituary of Caroline Sue Ross

Caroline Ross. Age 79 of St. Louis, MI

Caroline S. Ross, beloved Mom, Grandmother, Sister, and Friend was called to a greater service on Sunday, October 23, a beautiful fall day with the colors as vibrant as she was. She was 79 when her heart gave out.

Caroline was selfless social warrior of indelible strength who challenged the status quo and lived her life on her own terms. She was always doing something to make the world a better, more equitable place. From running a non-profit store, to volunteering at a crisis center, or on one of many community boards and commissions, to diligently serving the UAW State Workers and Retirees. Caroline relished fighting for a cause and put all her resources behind what she believed in locally, state-wide, and nationally. She loved politics and you all know she is having a frank discussion with “someone” in heaven about taking her before she had the chance to register her November 8th vote, right?!

She absolutely had a heart of gold. She was always making people feel valued, loved, listened to, and she encouraged them to find their inner strength and happiness. I know our family is not alone in our loss as I read the comments left on her Facebook page. I find comfort in the solidarity she achieved amongst her UAW union brothers and sisters. She rallied and fought for safe, healthy, just, and unbiased protocol for workplaces and retiree benefits…and loved every minute of it. You all were a motivating, important part of her daily life. And didn’t she give the “best-est” hugs that always ended with a “Love You!”

Mom certainly enjoyed life, traveling, and learning. I will greatly miss the hours of conversation we would have daily and the weekend adventures she would partake with us. Sadly, one of the two people I could talk to about my raw feelings…is now gone. We were all looking forward to baking cookies in our new kitchen this Christmas and discovering the forgotten nooks and crannies of Michigan through continued, weekend adventures. Emily and I will still wrap the gifts we had already loving picked out for her. I am going to miss her calling me by my nickname…the only person who really ever used it. The nickname we had for the 3 of us…was Three Bodacious Bitches, she got a kick out of telling people that. We even have a caricature that will hang in the entry hall of the new house.

Her greatest treasure was her children and grandchildren. Oh, how she looked forward to seeing all of our faces. She is survived by her daughters, Diana Deese and Deborah Priest, and 3 grandchildren; Sean Priest, Jessica Priest, and Emily Deese. We have thousands of pictures that she would browse through, often, reliving those precious memories. Caroline was preceded in death by her soulmate, Robert C. Ross, and is survived by her siblings; Patricia Sinko, Paula Kohn, Thomas Scott, Barbara Kinkead, and Vickie Ross.

Mom will always be with me. I will still talk to her in those shadowy moments right before I fall asleep.  I am the person I am because of the unconditional love you she has shown me, and you know I inherited my fierce attitude from her. And don’t even get me started on the waterworks every time I hear “Sweet Caroline” (as she would say, “You know Neil Diamond wrote that song for me.”) You will be with me until my very last breath, when once again, I will feel the embrace of one of your incredible hugs.

We love you, Mom.

Caroline was strong and steadfast in her faith. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 1pm at Faith Lutheran Church, 1402 E. Preston St., Mt. Pleasant.  In honor of Mom’s favorite fall food, a soup and sandwich luncheon will be held following the service.

I hope you all can make it as I want to hear all your stories about my Mom that I might never again have the chance to hear.  To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com  Arrangements made with Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.