Obituary for Carol Lee Peppard
Carol Lee (nee Miller) Peppard, age 85, of Mentor, entered eternal rest Oct. 10, 2022, surrounded by her family at UH Lake West Medical Center after a long courageous battle of many health complications.
Born Sept. 2, 1937, in Canton, Carol later moved to Cleveland, where she was a proud 1956 graduate of West Tech High School and met many loyal lifetime friends for which she kept in close contact throughout her lifetime. Shortly after graduation, she married the love of her life, Jim. They bought their first home in Costa Mesa, Calif., where Jimmy, Michael and Tami were born. They later moved to Connecticut, then to Parma, where Tara was born. They then moved to Nicholasville, Ky., then to Newbury, where they settled for many years and became active with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Helen Parish.
In addition to spending many years as a homemaker devoting herself to her family, she volunteered and worked a variety of jobs throughout her lifetime. She was as an elevator operator at Fries and Schule, a bank teller for Ohio Savings in Westpark, a secretary for a car dealership in Parma, a crew member at McDonalds in Nicholasville, Ky., and a cafeteria worker at Newbury High School, where she was greatly loved and appreciated by all. She was funny, kind, hard-working and always supportive to anyone in need.
Driven to support research for cleft palates, she served as the Parma Health Fund Chairman in 1971. She obtained the most contributions for Greater Cleveland and earned the Louise Ireland Humphrey Trophy award. She accomplished this with three young children and one on the way. She gave credit to her husband Jim for his support.
Carol lived life to the fullest. She loved reading novels and traveling, especially to Acapulco, Mexico. She loved her casinos and playing cards, especially with her grandchildren! She never missed a school activity, music program or athletic event for any of us. She was proud of her German heritage and always enjoyed making traditional home-cooked meals. She made delicious cheeseballs and stuffed green peppers and never overlooked Jim’s love for colcannon and Irish bread. She loved spending time with her beloved friends on East 219th and the Irish American Club East Side Inc. Wherever she went, she would stand out with her beautiful red hair. She was given the nickname “Red.”
“We are blessed to have her in our hearts forever! We love you mom so very much!”
The way she lived while fighting through so much pain is a testament to her tenacious spirit. She is now at peace. The family would like to express their gratitude to the Lutheran Hospital Wound Healing Center and CCF Palliative team for their compassionate support throughout this difficult time.
She is survived by her soulmate/husband of nearly 65 years, James Patrick Peppard Sr.; children, James Jr., Michael, Tammera (Mark) DuRant and Tara; grandchildren, Shawn (Ellen), Erica, Kia Hope, Brandon, Conor, and Cormac; great-grandchildren, Zoey and Blake; brother, Jon Ralph “Jack” (Jean Anne) Miller; brother-in-law, Edwin James “Ed” Kolberg; and sister-in-law, Mary Catherine Falle. She was also a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews including William (Valerie), Greg, Mary Lee, Leslie, Lori (Tom), Kelly (Darryl), Michelle, Gary Jr., Stacey (Louis); many nieces and nephews-in-law, Danny (MaryAnn), Marty (Amber), Kathleen, Patti (Brian), Jacqui (Anthony), Shelia (Terry), Maureen (Andy) and Ann Marie; dear cousin of Joannie Caviness (Gary Sr.); cousin-in-law of Gerard Siney (Ann), and many other cousins-in-law in Ireland; and the great-aunt and loyal friend of many.
She was preceded in death by her father, William Carl Miller Sr.; mother, Frieda Anastasia (nee Becherer) Heil; brother, William Carl Miller Jr.; sister, Freida Ann Kolberg; sister-in-law, Mary Miller; brother-in-law, Mel Falle; nieces, Bonnie (nee Kolberg) Nagy, Julie (nee Kolberg) Maher; nephew, Kenneth Miller; and nephews-in-law, Brian Kessler, Michael McGee, John Yeh and Chris Hamm.
A Celebration of Life Mass will be held 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at St. Robert & William Church, 367 E. 260th St, Euclid, OH 44132. Family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass at church. A Eulogy will be given by the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 at www.StJude.org, Hope for the Warriors at www.hopeforwarriors.org, or Rose-Mary at www.rmcle.org.
Arrangements are entrusted to McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Homes in Willoughby and Mentor.
To leave condolences for the family, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.
Born Sept. 2, 1937, in Canton, Carol later moved to Cleveland, where she was a proud 1956 graduate of West Tech High School and met many loyal lifetime friends for which she kept in close contact throughout her lifetime. Shortly after graduation, she married the love of her life, Jim. They bought their first home in Costa Mesa, Calif., where Jimmy, Michael and Tami were born. They later moved to Connecticut, then to Parma, where Tara was born. They then moved to Nicholasville, Ky., then to Newbury, where they settled for many years and became active with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Helen Parish.
In addition to spending many years as a homemaker devoting herself to her family, she volunteered and worked a variety of jobs throughout her lifetime. She was as an elevator operator at Fries and Schule, a bank teller for Ohio Savings in Westpark, a secretary for a car dealership in Parma, a crew member at McDonalds in Nicholasville, Ky., and a cafeteria worker at Newbury High School, where she was greatly loved and appreciated by all. She was funny, kind, hard-working and always supportive to anyone in need.
Driven to support research for cleft palates, she served as the Parma Health Fund Chairman in 1971. She obtained the most contributions for Greater Cleveland and earned the Louise Ireland Humphrey Trophy award. She accomplished this with three young children and one on the way. She gave credit to her husband Jim for his support.
Carol lived life to the fullest. She loved reading novels and traveling, especially to Acapulco, Mexico. She loved her casinos and playing cards, especially with her grandchildren! She never missed a school activity, music program or athletic event for any of us. She was proud of her German heritage and always enjoyed making traditional home-cooked meals. She made delicious cheeseballs and stuffed green peppers and never overlooked Jim’s love for colcannon and Irish bread. She loved spending time with her beloved friends on East 219th and the Irish American Club East Side Inc. Wherever she went, she would stand out with her beautiful red hair. She was given the nickname “Red.”
“We are blessed to have her in our hearts forever! We love you mom so very much!”
The way she lived while fighting through so much pain is a testament to her tenacious spirit. She is now at peace. The family would like to express their gratitude to the Lutheran Hospital Wound Healing Center and CCF Palliative team for their compassionate support throughout this difficult time.
She is survived by her soulmate/husband of nearly 65 years, James Patrick Peppard Sr.; children, James Jr., Michael, Tammera (Mark) DuRant and Tara; grandchildren, Shawn (Ellen), Erica, Kia Hope, Brandon, Conor, and Cormac; great-grandchildren, Zoey and Blake; brother, Jon Ralph “Jack” (Jean Anne) Miller; brother-in-law, Edwin James “Ed” Kolberg; and sister-in-law, Mary Catherine Falle. She was also a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews including William (Valerie), Greg, Mary Lee, Leslie, Lori (Tom), Kelly (Darryl), Michelle, Gary Jr., Stacey (Louis); many nieces and nephews-in-law, Danny (MaryAnn), Marty (Amber), Kathleen, Patti (Brian), Jacqui (Anthony), Shelia (Terry), Maureen (Andy) and Ann Marie; dear cousin of Joannie Caviness (Gary Sr.); cousin-in-law of Gerard Siney (Ann), and many other cousins-in-law in Ireland; and the great-aunt and loyal friend of many.
She was preceded in death by her father, William Carl Miller Sr.; mother, Frieda Anastasia (nee Becherer) Heil; brother, William Carl Miller Jr.; sister, Freida Ann Kolberg; sister-in-law, Mary Miller; brother-in-law, Mel Falle; nieces, Bonnie (nee Kolberg) Nagy, Julie (nee Kolberg) Maher; nephew, Kenneth Miller; and nephews-in-law, Brian Kessler, Michael McGee, John Yeh and Chris Hamm.
A Celebration of Life Mass will be held 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at St. Robert & William Church, 367 E. 260th St, Euclid, OH 44132. Family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass at church. A Eulogy will be given by the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 at www.StJude.org, Hope for the Warriors at www.hopeforwarriors.org, or Rose-Mary at www.rmcle.org.
Arrangements are entrusted to McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Homes in Willoughby and Mentor.
To leave condolences for the family, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.