Caroline Ann Deml

Caroline A. Deml, 87 of La Crosse, passed away on Monday, January 6, 2014 at the Hillview Healthcare Center in La Crosse. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, on September 23, 1926 to Toselli and Teresa (Galuccio) Minicucci. She married Robert J. Deml in Brooklyn on June 29, 1946. Carol was an Italian girl from Brooklyn who moved to La Crosse right after marriage. She quickly adapted to a less urban life and thoroughly enjoyed sharing weekend camping trips and vacations in national parks with family and friends. She learned to cook venison and squirrel but always reserved Sundays as the day she prepared a traditional Italian meal. She taught all her children to cook and sew. She believed in passing on what she learned and to always keep learning. Her grandchildren swam, camped, and explored nature with her. Every family member owns a quilt she made, a stuffed toy or even a bowl she made in pottery class. We will remember her ready smile and her patience, especially with stubborn Germans. Her life taught us to cherish new experiences and go after them; to share our humor and talents when we can and to treasure our family and friends. We are so thankful for the time we had with her.

Carol had been a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, St. Pius X Catholic Church andwas a volunteer atthe Child Crisis Center in Mesa, AZ, where she made quilts and toys for children in need. She had worked most of her life as a seamstress and tailor in various places such as Herbergers Department Store and the La Crosse Garment Company.

In addition to her husband Robert of La Crosse, she is survived by her two daughters Lotus (Douglas) Hennies of Escondido, CA, Teresa (Steven) Affeldt of Lake Forest, CA, two sons Robert P. Deml of La Crosse, Dennis Deml of La Crosse, three grandchildren Joel, Alicia and Timothy; two sisters Norma DeMestrio and Gilda (Bob) Green and one brother Dominick (Marie) Minicucci. She was preceded in death by two sisters Rosalie Minicucci and Josephine Minicucci.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services La Crosse chapel; 200 West Ave. So. Chaplain Sue Fletcher will officiate. Private family entombment was held in the St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum at the Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be used in Carols memory.