Caroline M Maravelas

Caroline Maravelas, 90, was welcomed into Heaven at 1:00 a.m., Saturday morning April 5, 2014, after a long, but graceful, 4 year battle with stroke, dementia and Alzheimers. Her daughter, Pamela, was at Moms side to comfort her for the journey. During Moms final 4 days and nights at Gundersen-Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, she was never alone thanks to family, friends, hospice and staff. Do not be afraid, I am with you.



Kay was born January 19, 1924, in Dresbach, Minn., to Morris and Anna (Hollowitsch) Kramer. She was at the Avalon Ballroom when she met the love of her life, William Sarantos Bill Maravelas, Sr. of Brooklyn, N.Y., who was training at Camp Mc Coy for the U.S. Army Intelligence. Kay and Bill married August 5, 1944, and lived in Minneapolis and New York, but spent most of her life in La Crosse. After Bill, Sr. passed in 1987, Kay never remarried. Caroline worked at Northern Engraving during The War, and afterwards helped Bill Sr. manage Maravel Manufacturing and Importing in La Crosse and Maravel Sales Agency in Minneapolis, all while raising their 6 children. She was a Scout Den Mother for years and Block Mother to many neighborhood kids. She valued the relationships developed with customers, other sales people and office staff at the Minneapolis Gift Mart (UMAGA), many of which lasted long past retirement. Kay enjoyed traveling, dancing, playing cards, dice and cribbage with her many friends and family, and attended theatre, jazz and big band concerts when she could. Aunt Kay loved attending family events and reunions with the Kramer and Minneapolis Maravelas clans. Grandma Kay especially cherished spending time with her beloved 9 Grandchildren and 5 Great-Grandchildren and always enjoyed their personalities, parties and activities.

Mom loved her Grandpuppies, most recently Coco, who brought love and joy to Grandma Kay and the other residents. Caroline was preceded in death by her parents, Morris and Anna; her husband, Bill Sr.; infant daughter; sisters and brothers-in-law, Marjorie (Ed) Linhart and June (Harold) Kulcinski; and nephew, Darrel Kulcinski. She was embraced by and loved her Greek in-laws, Maravelas Patriarch, Sarantos (Papou) and Matriarch, Vasaliki, Angelica, Louis and Stella, George, James, Diana and Nick Baca, and Gus Chellos also have passed. Kay is already missed. Survivors include children, Bill Jr. and Joanne (Zander) of Houlton, Wis., Pam and Steve Sheldon of Gettysburg, S.Dak., Greg of Waterford, Wis., Tom of Arizona, George and Mary (Dolle) of Holmen, Wis., and Andy of La Crosse; as well as 14 Grand and Great-Grandchildren; brother, Francis Hollowitsch of La Crosse; sister-in-law, Aphrodite Chellos of Boulder, Colo.; numerous nephews, nieces and friends. Moms final resting place is Oakland Cemetery in Dresbach, Minn. after a private family ceremony was held this week. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 31st at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 907 Sand Lake Rd., in Onalaska. Pastor Luanne Sorenson will officiate. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of service on Saturday at the funeral home.

The family wishes to thank the staffs at The Villas Assisted Living (La Crosse), Bluffview Memory Care (Holmen), Dr. Sheila Momont , staff and Hospice of Gundersen-Lutheran (La Crosse) for their care and compassion during the 4 years since her stroke.

Although so many family members did much for Mom over the years, SPECIAL THANKS go out to Andrew & Mary for giving so much of themselves since Moms stroke.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials in the name of Caroline Maravelas be sent to Olivet Lutheran Church, 2100 Bainbridge St., La Crosse Wis., 54603; the Onalaska American Legion, 731Sand Lake Rd., Onalaska, Wis., 54650, or Gundersen Lutheran Hospice, 1836 South Ave., La Crosse, Wis., 54601-9980

Another member of the Greatest Generation that we cannot replace, but will always remember. Now that She is free of her physical bonds, She will forever be Dancing With the Stars.

May God Bless Her Soul