Carole Turner Klionsky, 78, Longboat Key, Florida, passed away at home on November 20, surrounded by family. Funeral services will be held at Temple Beth Israel, Longboat Key at 10:30 AM on Friday, November 23, followed by a burial service at Beth Sholom Cemetery in Sarasota. Shiva will be held at the home of Sy and Carole Klionsky on Friday, November 23 from 3:00 until 5:00 PM, and will resume Sunday at 1:00 PM.
A native of Grand Rapids, MI, Carole lived in Boston, York, PA. , Vestal, NY, and Longboat Key. Friends say every place she lived was touched by her graciousness, warmth, close family connections, deep friendships, strong Jewish consciousness, and abundant and delicious food, which Carole saw as a way to bring people together and share love.
When friends and family describe Carole, they use words like warm, welcoming, positive and reful, but also determined and feisty. Her characteristic response to a problem: “I am here for you, and we will figure it out together”. Whatever lemons life handed her, she met them head on with grace, strength, a positive outlook, and a wicked sense of humor.
Carole kept going long after terrible diagnoses, fighting and persisting beyond what anyone would have thought possible. When life knocked her down, she got right back up, even until the final stages of her illness. Carole and her husband, Seymour (Sy) Klionsky, have been residents of Longboat Key for many years.
Together they have seven children and 13 grandchildren. Debbie Siton (Ofer), of Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael, Israel; Susan Cole (Rob), South Orange, NJ; and Dr. Frank Tamarkin (Tama), Allentown, PA, are her three children. She also has four stepchildren, Sarah Klionsky (David Borsykowsky), Burlington, VT; Ari Klionsky (Nicole), Tiburon, CA; David Klionsky, Raleigh-Durham, NC; and Ronna Klionsky (David Cleaveland), Cary, NC.
She and Sy are also blessed with loving grandchildren Yael and Noya Siton; Rachael and Ariel Cole; Hannah, Gabriel, and Zachary Tamarkin; Miriasha and Yosef Borsykowsky; Ally and Jacob Klionsky; and Moses and Max Cleaveland Klionsky. The second of three children, Carole was born November 20, 1940, to Hannah and Reuben Turner. She grew up in Grand Rapids and graduated from the University of Michigan.
She is survived by her siblings, Ina Slutsky (Morton), Atlanta, and Stephen Turner, Sarasota, and their children and grandchildren. Carole’s father was president of the synagogue for seven years. Her mother, a Hebrew teacher, was active in Hadassah, serving on the National Board.
Carole and Sy have long been active members of Temple Beth Israel in Longboat Key, where Sy served as President and Carole was a devoted member of the choir and active in many other areas. She and Sy regularly hosted scholars in residence and friends with traditional Shabbat dinners and home hospitality. Carole always said that love is strength.
Throughout her illness, her family really learned to know that is true. She was a of strength and guidance and will continue to be always. Donations in Carole’s memory may be made to the choir at Temple Beth Israel, Longboat Key, FL.
Hebrew Memorial Funeral Services, Sarasota / Manatee is serving the family.
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