Carol Sue Wingert

Carol Sue Wingert

July 25, 1938- July 12, 2017

Carol Sue Wingert was born July 25, 1938 in Napoleon, North Dakota to Jack and Mary Greitl. She was the oldest of 6 children and is survived by her younger siblings: Mary Lu Miller, Dee (Bill) Spencer, Jo Ann Frattone, Jack (Paula) Greitl, and Mike (Frances) Greitl. When Carol was 4 years old, her parents moved the family to Lakewood, Ca. in order for her father to find defense work in the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. They purchased a home at 5933 Dunrobin St., where her parents lived until their deaths in 2006 and 2008. Although her family grew up with limited means, Carol never noticed as her parents sacrificed to make sure she and her siblings had the opportunity to attend parochial schools, play sports (her dad was coach), and take swimming and dance lessons, all while Jack and Mary were also helping others. Carol attended St. Anthony's High School in Long Beach where her favorite activities included going to football games and The Canteen with her best friends Dori and Nancy. The summer after her Sophomore year, Carol got a job at Bellwood General Hospital: first as a snack bar worker, then waitress, followed by cook. By the time she was a Senior, Carol had begun working in the Medical Records Department learning how to transcribe dictation, collate patient charts, and do payroll while increasing her typing skills and speed. She taught herself biology and medical terminology in order to understand the vocabulary and content of what she was typing. Two years later she transferred to Lakewood General and then began transcribing from home after the birth of her second daughter. She typed late into the night in order to make ends meet while still being a mom during the day to her 4 daughters. In 1978, when she felt the girls were old enough, Carol went back to work full-time at Doctors Hospital of Lakewood (now Lakewood Regional) where she worked until she retired in 2005.

The summer following her Junior year of high school, Carol was driving to a party and hit a parked car. Ralph Wingert, who was on another date at the time, came to her rescue. They began dating and were married on May 11, 1957, a year after she graduated. They purchased their first home in 1959 in Lakewood when she was pregnant with their first daughter, Cheryl. Cheryl was soon joined by sisters Kathy, Lisa, and Nancy in the span of 6 years. Bursting at the seams, Carol and Ralph bought a newly constructed home in 1968 on St. Francis Place in North Long Beach, where they lived until their passings (Ralph 1937-2015). Carol's life revolved around her 4 girls- from being their Brownie Girl Scout Leader, to attending and taxiing teams to all their sporting events, and taking them to piano, gymnastics, swimming, diving, sewing, and cake decorating lessons. Not to mention keeping up with the laundry, housework, grocery shopping, and meal preparation for a family of 6. She even typed a college paper or two (probably more like 50). Her relationship with her daughters evolved into that of close friend and confidant. Amazing as she was as a loyal wife and loving mother, Carol was off the charts as a grandmother! The grandkids were always excited to go to Grandma C's where she was an active facilitator in doing anything they wanted to do: cooking, baking, reading, playing piano, arts & crafts, card & board games, doing hair, make-up & nails, building forts, putting on shows, scavenger hunts, hopscotch, gardening, playing in the water, and MUDDING. Her patience and energy were boundless (as long as she got in her nap from 6-7pm)! As her 10 grandchildren grew older, she maintained a unique and special bond with each one of them. The highlight of family life for Carol was vacations the entire family took together to Lake Shasta, Lake Trinity, Maui for Ralph and Carol's 50thAnniversary, and Lake Tahoe. Her family consists of: Cheryl (Joe) Bellino and their children: Jeremy (Christine) Bellino and great grandson David, Nicole Bellino, and Ashley (Brendan) McIntire and great grandson Waylon; Kathy (Brad) Davis and their children: Emily (Matt) Bush, Jana Davis, and Tim Davis; Lisa (Chris) Rubio and their sons Aaron (Kristin) and great grandsons Kaiden and Kaleb, and Garrett Rubio; Nancy (Paul) Thompson and their daughters Aubri and Kara. Carol is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her love of family, Carol had a very strong and deep faith that manifested itself in helping others. No one will ever know the extent of how many people she cared for because she never talked about it. When she helped someone it was with the utmost respect and acceptance without judgement, expecting nothing in return. She looked out for her neighbors, helped homeless people, drove people to work, shopping, doctors' appointments, or to run errands. She also gave money to those that needed it, brought meals to those who were sick, cared for those who were dying, and LISTENED for hours on end to people who needed a friendly ear. In terms of organized volunteering, St. Pancratius was the beneficiary of over 50 years of her service. Carol administered communion at convalescent hospitals once a week, taught Baptismal class, Adult Ed and Religious Ed, organized Operation Rice Bowl and was a lector. Her favorite activity was leading Bible Study the past 34 years. She loved learning about the Bible as it related to the historical context at the time it was written and sharing that with others in her faith community. After Carol retired, she began volunteering as a docent at Rancho Los Cerritos. She thoroughly reveled in dressing up and acting in her character, Lydia Spencer, from the 1800s for 4th grade students. She also started a routine of working out at Curves, where she added even more friends.

Later in life, Carol found herself having time to travel and took advantage of that opportunity. Along with yearly trips to Washington to see the Bellinos and Lake Millerton with the Greitl family, she also toured Europe and ventured to Spain with her sisters. After Ralph passed away in 2015, Carol went to Maui where she discovered her love of ziplining. She also traveled to the Big Island, Texas, and Florida. In 2016, Carol was able to fulfill her life-long dream of taking a 2 week historical tour of the Holy Land. In addition, Carol found enjoyment in improving her house (planting drought-friendly artificial flowers) and even hosted her Greitl family of over 50 people this past Christmas.

Whether you knew her by Mom, Grandma C, Sis, Aunt Carol Sue, Mrs. Wingert, or just Carol- you knew she was special. Please join in celebrating her life with a Memorial Mass at 10:30 on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at St. Pancratius Catholic Church in Lakewood, Ca. Reception immediately following at the Msgr. Kielty Church Hall. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, Carol has requested donations to: St. Vincent de Paul of Los Angeles. Online- http://svdla.org >Donate>Tribute Gift. Mail- 220 N. Ave 21 Los Angeles, Ca. 90031 Memo: Carol Wingert

Heifer International. Online- www.heifer.org/fundraise/memorials/index.html >Donate in Someone's Memory. Mail-P.O. Box 8058 Little Rock, AR. 72303 Memo: Carol Wingert

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401