Carol Kozojed

carol kozojed
Carol Kozojed passed on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at the Sanford Hillsboro Care Center. She had been a resident of the care facility since 1999, and would have turned 90 on August 21st. While there, the residents and staff became her family, with whom she enjoyed bingo, puzzles, music and watching T.V. She loved wearing brightly colored clothes and jewelry, and looked forward to the field trips, shopping at the Dollar Store, weekly Mass and visits from Fr. Casey during the past eight years. Carol always had a smile to share, and when family and friends came to visit, she could remember names and events like no other. She loved looking at photos of people she knew and where they lived. Reminiscing was one of her favorite things to do, and she did it better than anyone! Carol was born to John and Elsie (Jandl) Kozojed in Cummings, ND, and lived on the family farm with her sisters, Leona and Gladys and brother Jim until he married Patricia Theede in 1953. Jim and Pat moved into a trailer on the same farm, where they all lived until John’s passing in 1967. Mother Elsie spent much of her married life in the hospital, while the kids were growing up, until she passed in 1954. Denise, Carol’s oldest niece, remembers Carol and her sisters taking turns pulling her in the wagon, pushing her in the tire swing, coloring, playing cards and picking tomatoes from the garden when Pat wasn’t looking! A few got thrown at Jim by Carol when he’d ‘get her goat’. Carol and her sisters were very excited about her last niece’s arrival, Lisa, 16 years after Denise. Actually, everyone was excited, after Jim and Pat had lost seven children throughout their marriage, four to miscarriages. Three preceded Carol in death; Bruce, Marie and Joseph. Carol is survived by her nieces, Denise Kozojed (Alex) Plechash of Wayzata, MN; and Lisa (Matt) Clifford of Chanhassen, MN; and her great nephews Austin & Jacob Clifford. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Gladys in 1974, her brother Jim in 1995; her sister Leona in 2007, and her sister-in-law Pat in 2010. Although times were much simpler when Carol was growing up, her life was not without trials. She smiled through them, embraced the family she was given, loved the people she encountered, and left those of us who knew her, something to always remember: No matter what those gifts are that God has given us, use them for others while smiling. Carol, have a Heavenly 90th birthday with everyone you were waiting to see again! Love, Denise and Lisa

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  1. Carol ws a special lady at St. Rose parish. All the Eucharistic ministers who had the privilege of sharing the Eucharist with Carol knew her well. Carol and I go back many years as she lived in the apartment building next to my family home. When I brought Carol communion she always had a story she to tell about living next to us and our Mom. Carol had a great memory about the families of St. Rose and how we all fit together. God bless Carol, and I hope she is winning at the big bingo table in the sky. (if not St. Peter will hear about it)

  2. Denise and Lisa – what a beautiful tribute to Carol and your entire family. We will be with you in prayer as you celebrate Carol’s life on Saturday. I’m so glad that we had the chance to catch up a bit when you were back to visit Carol a few weeks ago. Grace, love and peace to you all!

  3. I have many fond memories of Carol (Leona and Gladys too). My parents Louie and Helen Heckman lived in the apartment above them for many years. When I would come home on weekends to visit, they would immediately come knocking on the door with an apple and an orange for me. Carol always told me that she loved my mom and hoped that I would end up “as nice and sweet as Helen”. So Carol, I will keep that as my goal! You rest In peace now and if you run into my parents, give them my love and a hug.

  4. What a perfect way to share a life story! This brought back so many memories of your family from the three Kozojed girls in church every Sunday to the trailer house to the simpler ways of life at that time…thank you for sharing. Thoughts And prayers are with you all…hugs.
    Theresa Mueller-Scheibelhut


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