Carolyn Jane Sanders bid farewell to this earthly realm on December 17^th 2019, in her own words “I don’t belong here anymore.”

    Carolyn, also known to friends and family as “Woody” was born in Pasadena to the late Harold Dow Wood and Mary Ann Hutton on February 21, 1949.

    Being second born, Carolyn had inherited a loving older sister Nancy Wood-Case. The two were inseparable and would entertain themselves for hours playing dolls or lovingly teasing their childhood cat “Kitty-bits”.

    Carolyn’s formative years were shaped by the Christ of Science religion, which her parents indoctrinated her into. Carolyn was a lifelong believer in the Christian Science religion and the religion’s steadfast belief in self-healing, resulting in almost a lifetime of good health.

    Carolyn met and married her first husband and high school sweetheart Steve Robert Sanders with whom they had a child Kristi in 1975. It seemed fitting that they met in art class, both shared artistic talent and Carolyn continued on into her adulthood pursuing artistic endeavors.

    Carolyn started her career as a banker at Security Pacific. A few weeks before embarking on her most memorable trip, a three month sojourn in Europe traveling in a VW bus with her two closest friends, Carolyn interviewed for a job as a bank teller. After the interview she rushed home crying to her father, aka "Daddy Dow" stating; “I got the job.” At that time Carolyn really wanted to be an airline attendant and travel the world, but alas her charming personality won over the banking industry.

    Carolyn’s magnetic personality and hard work ethic earned her many promotions as she worked herself up from teller to VP of cash management. It was through her career in banking that she met her best friend Eileen Baca. They remained close friends even after they both retired, meeting up weekly to share dinners at their favorite eatery “Stellas”.

    Carolyn never met a cat or Porsche she didn’t like. Perhaps it was the “purr” they had in common. She could always detect the sound of a Porsche engine driving by. Carolyn adored cats, so much so that she and her second husband Allen Bertholet adopted five cats. They might have adopted more if there was enough room on the bed.

    Carolyn enjoyed her cats, gardening, Louise Hay books, the movies, and Christmas. Christmas was her favorite holiday. She would spend the entire month decorating her house and preparing for Christmas. Most of all Carolyn enjoyed and deeply loved her small family; her late mother Mary Ann, her late sister Nancy, her daughter Kristi and her niece Julie. Her family was her pride and joy. She will be remembered for her sweet disposition and tender nature.

    A memorial lunch will be held for Carolyn Jane Sanders on February 21, 2020 at 11:30am at Stella’s Restaurant in Dana Point,17 Monarch Bay Plaza, Dana Point, CA 92629.  

    Please RSVP, so that the family can reserve the appropriate amount of seats for lunch. Even if you cannot attend the service the Sanders family would love for you to share your comments, favorite stories and memories with family and friends here on GatheringUs.