- Date Of Birth: March 1, 1937
- Date Of Death: February 16, 2015
- State: Indiana
The famous saying, “to hold the fort,” implies that while others go forth, someone else must stay behind: to guard, to watch over and to protect, at all costs. Staying behind and watching over her family was Carol A. Castenando’s lifelong role until she passed away Feb. 16 at the age of 77.
When her beloved husband Joseph J. Castenando Sr. (U.S. Air Force, retired) gave his life for his country 50 years ago, Carol was left behind to raise three young children, mostly alone and with limited resources.
Carol fiercely held her ground in the face of many obstacles and successfully raised her three children, daughter Elizabeth (Mike) Weber of Edwardsburg; son Joseph Jr. (Laurie) Castenando of Goshen, Ind.; and daughter Robin (Jim) Brenneman of Cassopolis. They survive, along with eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. One great-grandchild preceded her in death.
Among the many great lessons she taught, she instilled in her family about God’s love, and to obey the Ten Commandments, and that all God’s creatures big and small deserve love, kindness and shelter. She taught her children to never give up in the face of adversity and believed every person could make a difference in the world around them. Carol knew the world was not fair and was openly disappointed that it wasn’t. She ended every night by promising her children that there would always be a new day coming and that she would always be there to greet them in the morning.
Carol was born March 1, 1937, in Yonkers, N.Y., and was a 1955 graduate of Elkhart High School before proudly joining the U.S. Air Force herself.
How fitting it is that she left us on Valentine’s weekend to rejoin her loved ones gone before her: husband Joseph Sr.; father and mother Joseph and Anna Mulcahey; her two brothers, James (Jean) and Joe (Sharon) Mulcahey; and one sister Joan (James) Harness.
With sorrow we let you go, as God has called. Carol held the fort well and is now entitled to eternal peace and happiness, and her reward in heaven.
