Carol A. Blau Obituary
Carol Ann (Kopchinski) Blau, "Auntie Carol" age 83, of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on February 23, 2024. Carol was born on December 31, 1940, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Mother to Cynthia (Steven) Pederson and sister to Rose Regner, Jane Dolezar, and Sharon Kopchinski. Carol was blessed with four grandchildren and two great grandchildren; she is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Preceded in death by her son Edward Michael, Jr., brothers Jerry, Rudy, and sister June. The visitation for Carol will be held at the Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home - Oconomowoc, WI on Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 1:00PM until 3:00PM, with a time for eulogies starting at 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center at Aurora Summit Hospital in Oconomowoc, WI or to AngelsGrace Hospice, Oconomowoc, WI.
Carol passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. For ten additional years, she faced the challenges of this diagnosis with unwavering determination to fight for more time with her family, especially her great grandchildren. Even as she endured treatments and surgeries, Carol continued to embrace life fearlessly. In that determination, during the summer of 2023 Carol made sure she went on a bucket list trip to Europe with her daughter and other family members, cruising the majestic Fjords of Norway. During that trip, Carol visited the home of Anne Frank in Amsterdam, navigating the steep staircases and narrow passageways of the house with a resolve that exhibited her resilience and strength of her character.
Carol grew up in the Sherman Park area of Milwaukee and then lived for almost 60 years at her beloved home on Lower Genesee Lake in Waukesha County. Carol was the matriarch of her family and her extended family as well. Carol was involved with every niece, nephew, grandchild, and great grandchild during their developing years and watching them grow to adulthood. When we were younger, we remember the sleepovers at her house on the lake, many of us learned how to water ski. Carol loved to entertain and had great parties at her home in the summer. She was very welcoming to all family members, their friends and their friends, friends. Carol had an incredible internal drive to make sure things got done and that those in her family were cared for.
Carol was devoted to her grandchildren, Elliot, Trae, Sean, Kyrsin, and especially her great grandchildren Graelynn and Keanan. Carol lived the life she wanted, always involved in family activities. She enjoyed traveling, not just domestically but internationally as well, and of course living on the lake.
Auntie Carol touched all our lives, and we were so fortunate to have her with us for so many years. We will cherish the memories forever.
Special thanks to grandson Trae and niece Gail for providing extra comfort for Carol, staying overnight at AngelsGrace Hospice, so Carol would not be alone at night.
Also, special thanks to the nurses, doctors, and staff at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center-Aurora Summit. All of you made Carol feel like part of your family and made her feel safe. Lastly, words cannot describe the gratitude and thanks to all the staff at AngelsGrace Hospice for your compassion, thoughtfulness, and plain kindness you displayed during Carol's last days.
