Page created by: Caryn Reedy

Carol Ann Reedy, age 70, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 after a courageous and difficult struggle with Parkinson's Disease.

Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Carol married her love and life-long partner, Donald Robert Reedy, in 1970. They were blessed to have 47 years together until Don's death on April 26, 2018. Carol is survived by her daughter, Caryn, son-in-law, Richard, and grandson, Silas, who loved his Granny to the moon and back; her son, Garrett, and daughter-in-law, Jesita; and countless friends who couldn't help but love her and appreciate all that she has done for them. In addition to her loving husband, Carol is predeceased by her amazing and beautiful daughter, Katie; her mother, Rose; and her father, Edward.

In lieu of flowers and to honor Carol's wishes to find a cure for the devastating effects of Parkinson's Disease, the family asks that memorial donations be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. A link to make a tax-deductible donation is available on this page.

Carol was a dedicated Registered Nurse for 35 years and served in that capacity in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Labor and Delivery, Postpartum care for the new moms, and with the new babies in the Nursery. She worked at Columbia Hospital for Women, Arlington Hospital/Virginia Hospital Center, and Mary Washington University Hospital, and at the offices of Northern Virginia Physicians for Women. For 13 years at the start of her career, she and Don donated their time to teach Lamaze classes to expecting moms and dads. She was also a lactation consultant and breastfeeding advocate, ensuring that all the babies she worked with had a jump start at health and life.

Carol's support and caring of others never wavered, and she spent her life donating her time and talents to many causes, always with a focus on helping people, and particularly women and children: She volunteered at Arlington County and Spotsylvania County Free Clinics to provide low-income women with free obstetrical and gynecological health services, and their children with free pediatric care services. She crocheted thousands of tiny hats and blankets for stillborn babies and their parents so that those parents could have a few precious moments and photos with their babies. She leveraged her machine embroidery and seamstress skills to construct personalized specialty items for hospice and humane society organizations and animal care organizations. She was always the first person to volunteer to support those in need, whether a friend, family member, or stranger. She was a true, selfless humanitarian to the core.

Don and Carol were quite a pair, adopting and caring for numerous animals (including dogs, cats, horses, goats, and donkeys), especially after their retirement. If they came across any homeless animals around their property in Spotsylvania County, they would pay from their own pockets to have those animals treated by a vet, vaccinated, and fixed, and would adopt, feed, and care for any of them that stuck around. They supported numerous animal rescue leagues and philanthropy organizations.

In addition to her generosity and kindness toward people and animals, Carol was an incredibly talented artist. She made crocheted blankets and afghans for everyone around her, made pajamas and quilts for family members and friends, and constructed gifts of all kinds for anyone she knew, and many people she didn't. A talented seamstress, she made Don his first business suits and even a Santa Claus suit that he used for many years at family gatherings and company Christmas parties. She was an oil painter, with a focus on painting depictions of her beloved horses. She was a master tiler of bathrooms and kitchens, a talented carpenter and builder, and a specialty painter of patterns and textures. She was an awesome cook and baker, and readily shared anything she made with others, packing everyone to-go containers filled with goodies. She was a talented gardener, growing flowers and vegetables of all kinds, many of which she would donate. Everything she created was a work of art. There was simply no end to her talents, generosity, caring, kindness, bravery, strength, perseverance, resilience, and love.

Carol's final wishes were as equally selfless as her life. Her brain was donated to the Georgetown Brain Bank to advance medical research toward a cure for Parkinson's Disease. Even in death, she is helping countless others. That is exactly the type of person she was.

Carol has touched so many lives, in so many ways. She was truly one of the most amazing, talented, and loving people who has ever walked this earth. We miss her so much already.