Carol O'Brien

Carol O’Brien, 84, of Traverse City, formerly Bay City, passed away at home with family by her side on September 10, 2020. Carol was born December 1, 1935 in Detroit to the late Ralph and Opal (Sanders) Powell. At the age of 14 Carol moved from the Detroit area to Bay City where she finished her senior high years and fell in love with and married her high school sweetheart, the late Patrick O’Brien. Together they raised three children. During the adolescent years of her children, Carol was noted as the best stay at home mom and wife. She tended to the needs and desires of her family, always with a smile and a heart full of love. She also passed her love for Glen Lake and Northern Michigan on to her entire family. After her youngest was in high school, Carol returned to college and completed a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology. She worked in the areas of education, community mental health and rehabilitation. For a number of years, Carol and Pat would winter in The Villages, Florida, enjoying the community and friends they made. Carol was a valuable volunteer to the Meals on Wheels Program as well as the Republican Party. In addition, she was a Sunday School teacher for a number of years and held a long-time membership with the P.E.O. Carol will always be missed for her love of family, her community service and her passion for life. Carol is survived and missed dearly by her children; Kim (Linda McFarlane) O’Brien, Dr. Kevin (Fiancé Connie Buffa) O’Brien and Rena (Tom) Spencer. Grandchildren; Jordan McFarlane, Patrick (Wiebke Engel) O’Brien, Dr. Matthew (Dr. Priyanka) O’Brien, Catherine (Steven) Jordan, Maggie O’Brien, Erica (Adam) Dwyer, Scott Spencer and Jonathan Spencer. Also surviving are great grandchildren; Diya and Rohan O’Brien, Rafael Johnson, Eilley, Rory and Molly Dwyer and Greyson Spencer, sister Maxine Colling as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, infant grandson Steven Spencer, daughter-in-law Ann O’Brien, sister Mona Evans and brother T. Charles “Chuck” Powell. Please consider contributions in Carol’s honor to the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Visitation will take place Saturday September 12, 2020 from 3-5pm at the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home Gardens. A funeral service will take place Sunday September 13, 2020 at 3:00pm also at the funeral home with visitation one-hour prior. Carol and her family are being cared for by the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

Carol O'Brien

December 1, 1935 - September 10, 2020