September 28, 1930 - January 14, 2024
Gone from home, but in our hearts forever: Carol Isabelle (Cuzzetto) Gunderson passed away on January 14th, 2024, in Spokane, WA. Carol was born on September 28, 1930 (at home). Weighing just 2 � pounds at birth, she spent time in an incubator which was simply a box on the oven door. Her Aunt, who had a baby in October, would send milk up for her as hers was very rich. She made it 93 years longer than anyone thought she would. Carol�s parents, Frank and Alma Cuzzetto (Beck) were both born into large families. Her mother, Alma, was born in North Dakota into a family of 10 children. Her father, Frank, was born in California into a family of 8 children. Frank and Alma had two other children, Gene Cuzzetto and Lucille Reaves (Howard). Carol had numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother and sister. Carol was a proud alumni of Rogers High School in Spokane, WA, Class of 1949. A case of rheumatic fever took her out of school for one year as she would have graduated in 1948. While at Rogers, she was active in student government. After graduating, she was extremely active in alumni groups, and class reunions. Carol still met with old friends for lunch well into her 90's including: Class of 1948 (The Encores) and the Class of 1949 (The Regal Girls). She was lucky enough to develop and maintain many lifelong friendships from her time at Rogers. In October of 1950 Carol met her one and only, Roy Boyd Gunderson. They were engaged on January 27th, 1951, and married on April 7th, 1951. Carol knew the moment she met him that he was the one. Carol and Roy met at a Saturday night dance, which she attended every week with gals from work. The first night Roy took her home he also took a friend that she worked with; he said he finally got it right, and the second week just took Carol home. In their first year of marriage, Roy was recalled to the Navy Reserve, so Carol lived at home. Roy got out of the Navy in January of 1952. They spent their second year of marriage in Bloomington, Indiana where Roy got his Masters in Parks and Recreation. After one year in Indiana, they then returned to the Northwest: Bellevue, Puyallup, back to Spokane, Pullman and finally back to Spokane again. Carol and Roy had three wonderful children: Jeffrey (Barb) Gunderson in 1952, Brian (Sue) Gunderson in 1955 and Laurel (Duane) Pangburn in 1957. Carol was also a loving grandmother to Eric (Angie) Jones, Amy Pangburn and Erika (Tim) Carlson. She was also Great Grandma to Sierra and Savannah, and Great Mamac to Kooper. Carol had many other close friends and family including the Staley family: Mark, Rochelle, Simone and Camille. When granddaughter, Amy, was in Colorguard at Central Valley High School, Carol made flags and uniforms for the team. To everyone, she was known as the 'Colorguard Grandma'. Carol loved attending the competitions. At Carol's request, there will be a showing at her celebration of life of the Central Valley High School Marching Band 1998 production of Riverdance. Carol loved crafting, flower arranging, sewing, baking and bowling (in her younger days). Throughout her life, Carol held various jobs including: Interstate General Telephone Company, Spokane County Federal Credit Union (donated time), Edgecliff Alcoholism Center (Bookkeeper), store demonstrator, Apartment Manager, but her favorite job of all was that of Wife and Mother. In a letter written by Carol herself that she wanted to share, "I had a great marriage which lasted 54 years until Roy's death in 2006. He was the love of my life and I still celebrate every year. The family isn't perfect, but darn near. Kids, Grandkids, Great Grandkids, ln-Laws, Ni
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