Carolyn Sue Steffens

Carolyn Sue Steffens (nee Cook) 85 of Aurora, Ohio valiantly battled cancer for every last minute of her joyous life. She outlived her doctor’s predictions by more than seven months. When she finally exhausted all of her will to fight, on September 26th, 2024, she left on her own terms. She visited with several of her spectacular friends that day, received her Sacrament of Last Rights, and took her last breath surrounded by her daughters, family, and loved ones. 

Carolyn was preceded in death by: her parents, Kirby and Erna Cook; and her sister and brother-in-law, Elinor and Bruce Stults. 

Carolyn is survived by her children: Robert J. Steffens III (Sandy), Debra L. Steffens (Richard Kusold), and Lora B. Hendershot (Troy); grandsons: Robert J Steffens IV (Lauren), Kristopher C. Hendershot (Kayla), and Ryan K. Hendershot; granddaughter: Elise Kusold; great granddaughter: Vanellope R. Steffens; God children, niece and nephews: Cindy Carmody (Jim), Jeff Stults, and Scott Stults (Kellie); and numerous beloved friends.

Carolyn was born on September 29th, 1938 to Kirby and Erna Cook, in Omaha, Nebraska. She joined her older sister, Elinor, in a loving family. Kirby’s career as an executive in the paper industry brought a few family moves. Despite the moves, it was a happy childhood and perhaps the catalyst in Carolyn’s skill at making such good friends, wherever she landed. As a child, Carolyn was a fan of westerns and wanted to be a cowboy. She holstered two six shooters and wore cowboy boots with spurs, as often as her mother allowed. Carolyn went through most of her grade school years living in Kansas City. Her High School years were spent in the suburbs of Chicago. 

Carolyn’s love of sports was definitely influenced by her father, who was captain of his college football and basketball teams and a member of the track team. Kirby’s job provided the perks of tickets to many sporting events, which Carolyn enjoyed at her father’s side. Other than in a group of professional gamblers and sports columnists, you would be hard pressed to find an individual that watched more sporting events than Carolyn. She was an avid bowler and participated in numerous bowling leagues throughout her life. When her daughter Debbie asked her to take golf lessons with her, Carolyn’s natural ability shone brightly. She hit the ball long and straight, putting with ease, in a game she had no interest at all in. She was just there to support her daughter, who did not inherit that natural ability. 

Carolyn loved her adopted Cleveland Indians, Browns, and Cavs. She was thrilled to meet her favorite Cleveland Guardians player, Josh Naylor, early in this season. She cherished the baseball bat, jacket and flowers that he gifted her. No one anticipated too many more days from Carolyn at that point. That visit with him and the kindness of the other players and Guardians organization lifted her spirits. She enjoyed watching 92 wins this season and seeing them clinch a spot in the playoffs. She will be rooting them on throughout the playoffs from heaven. 

Carolyn was a good student, attending Miami University of Ohio her freshman year and transferring to Northwestern University to complete her degree. Many will find it hard to believe that America loving, flag waiving, conservative Carolyn Steffens majored in Social Sciences and was going to save the world as a liberal social worker in Chicago. Despite these liberal leanings in her youth, she still plans to vote Republican this year and promises to get some of the other residents at the cemetery to stop voting strictly for Democrats, year after year. 

Carolyn married her high school boyfriend, Bob Steffens, in a storybook wedding at her parents’ country club. Singer and actor Perry Como even interrupted his golf game to come give the beautiful bride a kiss and pose for a picture. Carolyn and Bob started their family in Evanston, Illinois with the births of Robert III and Debra. Work brought the young family to Cincinnati, Ohio, where Lora was born. Another work move brought them to Aurora, OH. When her marriage ended, Carolyn showed everyone what she was made of. This was the 1970’s. Divorce wasn’t accepted like it is today. Carolyn was determined to not let the divorce impact her children’s lives. Aurora was their home and she would make it on her own. 

Carolyn found herself a job in a male dominated field, procurement at Swagelok. She navigated herself through unchartered waters and gained the respect of her coworkers and vendors. She made this job her career and stayed with the company until her early retirement at 56 years old. At home, she made sure her children were engaged in academics and activities. Her loving parents had moved to the Greater Cleveland area just prior to Carolyn. Maki (grandma) made sure her grandchildren got to all of their after-school activities, while Carolyn finished her work day, sometimes putting the pedal to the metal, for their amusement. Carolyn’s job had some perks, just like her father’s job did. She was able to provide her children with the same type of sporting experiences she enjoyed as a child, taking them to see Cleveland’s professional teams. Carolyn made sure that there were family vacations every summer and instilled a love of the beach in her children, vacationing in Florida or with her sister’s family at Table Rock Lake. Her children also enjoyed amusement parks. Carolyn sat reading a book, people watching, and always keeping one eye on her children, while she patiently waited for them to get through the lines for their rides. When her three grandsons came along, you would find Carolyn at all of their events and activities. She loved spoiling them at Christmas, birthdays, and for no particular reason at all. 

Carolyn was a Eucharistic Minister, volunteered for American Red Cross Blood Drives, volunteered at a nursing home, was an elections poll worker, donated time to the Portage County Republican Party, was a member of the American Women’s Business Association, volunteered at the Aurora Library book sales, and helped out numerous other organizations and charities whenever called upon. She played Pinochle and Bunco, and was Queen in her Red Hat group. Most importantly, Carolyn made lots of lifelong friends in Aurora. She made these friends by picking up the phone when it rang and accepting invitations, even if she wasn’t in the mood to answer the phone or go out. She made these friends by being the one to organize outings and calling friends to encourage them to participate. She opened herself up to people and she reached out to them as well. They were good friends that weren’t just around for card games, dinners, and vacations. These were the friends who visited her when she was sick, sat with her at her chemo appointments, picked her up and got her out of the house for dinner or cards when she was too weak to drive herself. These were the kind of friends you don’t want to leave behind, the ones that make life so joyous that you battle cancer for every last minute of life that God grants you. To all of Carolyn’s many friends, thank you for all you have done! Words cannot express Carolyn’s gratitude to you and the gratitude of her family for your friendship, assistance in her care, and elevation of her spirits. 

Special thanks to her neighbor and care giver, Gia Santora, who made it possible for Carolyn to spend her last months of life in her own home, visiting with friends and having the people and things she loved around her. She eased the stress on Carolyn’s daughters, knowing their mom was well cared for throughout the day and evening, when they couldn’t be present. 

FLOWERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AT THE CHURCH 

In lieu of flowers, for those wishing to express their condolences with a gift, please make a donation in Carolyn’s name to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (see donation link below)

Catholic Mass of Burial to be held at: 

Our Lady of Perpetual Help 
342 South Chillicothe Road 
Aurora, Ohio 44202 
10:30 AM on Saturday, November 16, 2024 

Visitation with Family and friends will be held in the church hall immediately after mass. 

Cremains will be interred at Aurora Cemetery (Section C, Lot 44, Grave #8) in a private ceremony with her immediate family. Condolences and special memories of Carolyn can be shared with her family online at www.heritagecremationsociety.com