Carol Ann Rudolph, nee Beaver, nee Yasko, 73, passed away peacefully while with family on the morning of October 23, 2018 after a continued battle with leukemia. Carol was born on December 24, 1944 in Michigan City, Indiana St Anthony Hospital to Antoinette ‘Toni’ and William ‘Bill’ Yasko, while her dad, Bill, was in Europe fighting in WWII. As an adult, many identified her as “Carol, the Christmas Eve baby, with a last name of Rudolph”.
She loved Christmas too and all holidays, at times dressing up her home and yard for all to enjoy. She was generally a happy person who friended easily. Though born in Michigan City, she grew up in New Buffalo, Michigan.
Her roots are there where even a road named after her grandparents, Yasko Road, remains. After high school, she married Ronald ‘Ron’ Beaver of LaPorte, IN. At one point they lived in San Francisco, CA while he was stationed there during the Vietnam War.
Afterward, they returned to LaPorte and raised a family with daughter, Rachelle and son, Ronnie. After 21 years they divorced, but remained close friends. Later, Carol married Richard ‘Dick’ Rudolph.
Carol and Dick were married for 26 years but together for over 30. They had many great years together filled with lots of adventures, family and friends. Friends said Carol had a contagious smile and warm personality.
It attracted many friends, neighbors and even strangers would walk away from a conversation with her feeling they had known her. She also developed life-long friendships at the places she worked. Her employment through the years ended with a retirement from The Whirlpool Corporation in LaPorte but her favorite ‘job’ after that was being Grandma Carol.
She loved being with her grandsons, going for walks, taking them fishing, having campfires, playing games and mostly watching them grow into young adults. Carol’s favorite things to do included not only holiday celebrating, but gatherings with friends and family. She loved traveling and vacationing, although spending time in the luxury of the hotel room was not to go unused.
Carol loved her pets and seeing the wildlife in her backyard, even feeding raccoons from her porch and watching the great many birds from the many bird feeders surrounding her home. She was one to go tromping through the woods and mushroom hunting, just exploring the outdoors. Gardening and flower shopping were a passion.
She also greatly enjoyed occasional casino trips with her cousins and friends, followed by crab leg dinners. Caring for people was another thing she loved to do, be it friends or family. She also cared endlessly for her mother, Toni, and spent many years watching over her grandsons in Illinois.
Carol is survived by her husband, Dick; daughter, Rachelle (Joe) Frosch; step-daughter, Gerri (Jim) Geiger and five grandsons, Jared, Jonah, Jacob, Eric and Owen; brothers, Andrew ‘Andy’ and Walter ‘Wally’ Yasko; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her son Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Beaver II; ex-husband, Ronald ‘Ron’ Beaver, mother and father, Toni and Bill Yasko, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and a niece. Carol was a fun person to be around.
She will be missed by all who knew her. The heavens are brighter by one more star. Services will be held at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, 1117 Indiana Avenue in LaPorte, Indiana at 2pm Friday Novembe r 2, 2018 with visitation from 11-2 before.
Although Carol loved her flowers, the family requests that donations can be made to either: Rush University Medical Center for leukemia research. Please send memorial gifts to Rush University Medical Center, 1201 West Harrison St., Suite 300, Chicago, Illinois 60607 or visit rush. convio.net/crudolph .
Or to the LaPorte County Small Animal Shelter, 2855 IN-2, LaPorte, IN 46350 Or call 1-219-326-1637. Please share prayers, condolences, and memorial will the family at Essling Funeral Home.com.
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