Deceased: Carol Crawford Severance
Date: September 20, 2008

 



Carol Crawford Severance, 61, of Modesto, Calif., and formerly of Erie, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, in Modesto after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Carol was born in Erie, Pa., on Oct. 17, 1946, the daughter of the late Kenneth Crawford Sr. and Susan Lynch Crawford. Carol loved life and put up a ferocious fight against cancer for about seven years. She lived in Modesto for the past several years after an enriching 30-year career in education and a second career as a flight attendant for Continental Airlines. She also lived in Wadsworth, Ohio, for many years before moving to Modesto. While in Erie, Carol was a member of St. John Lutheran Church. She had a lifelong, deep belief in Jesus Christ. As a child and teenager, she had many close friends in Erie, such as Kathy Wilson, Patty Erickson, Joyce Robertson and Shirley Traphagen, and was a popular student at Memorial Jr. High School and Academy High School, where she was proud to be a cheerleader.

Carol earned a degree in physical education at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, and later earned a master degree in sports management and another master degree in adaptive physical therapy. She was particularly proud of a scholarship dedicated in her honor upon retiring from Cloverleaf Elementary School, Cleveland, Ohio. Most of all, Carol loved her children and grandchildren. She dedicated most of her life to them. She loved having fun with them and taking them places. She especially enjoyed the tea rooms with the little girls, and sports with the boys and girls. Carol's passing leaves a deep void in the lives of her family and friends, who will miss her caring nature, charm and beauty.

She is survived by her daughter, Colleen Connelly, and her husband, Scott, of Modesto; her son, Charles Severance of Rittman, Ohio; her sister, Barbara Romanowicz, and her husband, Keith, of Erie; her brother, Kenneth Crawford, Jr., of Erie; and many beautiful grandchildren: Collin, Alexa, Noah, Clair, Keana, Trevor and Allison (and Karly Caroline  is due Nov. 23). A memorial service will be held at Salas Bros. Funeral Home in Modesto, on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. Also, a second memorial service will be held at Rittman Christian Church, 50 N. Main St., Rittman, Ohio, on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Salas Bros. Funeral Home in Modesto, Calif. Memorials may be made to the John Kansius Cancer Research Fund, 915 State St., Erie, PA 16501. The death of a mother is the first sorrow wept without her. - Author Unknown A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread in the meaning of life. - Isadora James