Carol Holmes Gargano

Carol Holmes Gargano was a woman of true character with a love for teaching and learning, a love only exceeded by the passion she had for her family and grandchildren, whom she held so dear to her heart.

Carol was born on April 5, 1930, in Stambaugh, Michigan, to proud parents, John and Ebba (Bergquist) Holmes. She was one of five children in the Holmes family, with three brothers and one sister. Carol received her education in the Stambaugh Public Schools and graduated from Stambaugh High School. She then went on to attend North Park College in Chicago and Michigan State University, where she received her teaching degree. During her teaching career, Carol taught English and was also a substitute teacher in the Holland Public Schools.

In the mid 1950s, Carol met and married the love of her life, William Gargano, and they had four wonderful children: Jeffrey, Mark, Anne and Lisa. She was later blessed with five grandchildren, whom she adored. Carol was a longtime member of Third Reformed Church in Holland. All who knew and loved Carol will treasure her memory.

Carol Holmes Gargano, age 77, of Holland, MI, died on Friday, April 6, 2007, in Holland Hospital following a lengthy illness.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Leonard Holmes and Robert Holmes, her sister-in-law, Anna Weinand, and her brother-in-law, William Huston.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, William Gargano of Holland; her children: Jeffrey and Moira Gargano of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Mark and Christine Gargano of Saugatuck, Anne Larson of Bloomington, IN, Lisa Gargano and Daniel Whelan of Alexandria, VA; five grandchildren; her brother, William and Margaret Holmes of Manitowoc, WI; her sister, Elaine Huston of Minneapolis, MN; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Peter Gargano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Amil and Elaine Gargano of New York, NY, Marjorie Holmes of Palm Desert, CA, Betty Jean Gargano of Detroit, MI; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, and a special cousin, Marian Visintainer of Milwaukee, WI.

Funeral services for Carol will be held on Tuesday, April 10, at 11:00 a.m. at Third Reformed Church, 111 West 13th Street in Holland, with Rev. William Unzicker officiating.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 9, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Dykstra Life Story Funeral Home, Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street, Holland. Private burial will take place at Graafschap Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to the Women's Ministries at Third Reformed Church or The Inn at Freedom Village. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory of Carol or sign her online guest book. Arrangements by Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Inc., Mulder Chapel.