It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Carolyn Rose Stepnick, who left us peacefully on January, 20, 2025. Carolyn lived a life full of kindness, generosity and unwavering love for family and friends Carolyn was born in Stony Ridge, Ohio, to loving parents, Clyde and Flossie Wagoner. From an early age, she exhibited a passion for learning and a curiosity about the world. She and her five siblings grew up on their father’s poultry farm in Lucky. As a child she attended Stony Ridge Methodist Church with her family. She graduated from Lake High School, and she continued with her education and started working for the Edison Company in Toledo. That was where she met the love of her life, Noel Joseph Stepnick.
Noel and Carolyn married on September 14, 1957. They had five beautiful children. They then moved from Toledo to Perrysburg, setting roots in the Perrysburg community and St. Rose Catholic Church. Unfortunately, their love story ended when Noel suddenly passed at the age of 36. This left Carolyn to raise their children on her own, with the youngest child just five years old. That didn’t deter Carolyn. She would pack up her family and go camping with her sister and her family. Carolyn gave her children the best life she could being a single mother and grieving for the love of her life.
Carolyn enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow and then was blessed to be a great-grandmother. She was thrilled when her last grandchild was born and lives in the same town so she could be involved in all of the school activities, social and sporting events. She enjoyed family reunions and tending to her yard and flower gardens. She was a dedicated parishioner at St. Rose and she became a secretary there to be closer to her children as they attended school. She volunteered and became a part of the Altar Sodality. Carolyn would be the one in the gathering to engage in conversation with strangers and make them feel welcomed.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Noel Joseph Stepnick; daughter, Elizabeth Stepnick Miller; brothers, Lowell, Howard and Charlie Wagoner. She is survived by her loving children, Cate Stepnick Miller, Pete Stepnick, John Stepnick and Joseph (Rozanne) Stepnick; 13 grandchildren and 15 greatgrandchildren; her sisters, Maxine Delisle Schulte and Hazel Kepus; many nieces and nephews, and greatnieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 24, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Maison-Dardenne- Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant Street, Maumee. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 25, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Rose Catholic Church, 215 East Front Street, Perrysburg. Burial will be held at Troy Township Cemetery.
Condolences can be shared at walkerfuneral homes.com.