Carole Corona

Born in Philadelphia, PA on June 28, 1940, Carole Corona née Toklish was the youngest daughter of Anthony and Dorothy Toklish. Her parents, sister, and ancestors were true American patriots. Indeed, Carole’s passion for genealogy brought to light great great grandparents, great uncles, and their fathers, fighting for our country as far back as the Revolutionary War. Growing up on Bingham Street with her beloved sister Dottie, Carole had a unique childhood as her father fought in the Pacific Arena during World War II as Chief Petty Officer on an aircraft carrier. She still remembered her mother happily vacuuming the house the morning her father was returning from the war in the Fall of 1945. Carole attended Olney High School where she graduated as Valedictorian and was voted Most Popular by her classmates. She went on to attend Penn State University where she majored in Music and minored in French. Talented enough to be a concert pianist but craving more adventure, Carole moved to Greenwich Village in New York City with four of her Kappa Delta sorority sisters. She landed a job in the treasury department at International Telephone and Telegraph and would go see Bob Dylan every Wednesday night at Gerde’s Folk City. In 1962, walking home after work, Carole passed a handsome man washing his car on Carmine Street. She said “I like your car!” Not missing a beat, he responded with “Want to go for a ride?” It wasn’t long before Neil Corona proposed. Neil and Carole were married in 1965 at Our Lady of Pompeii on the corner of Carmine and Sixth Avenue, moved to the Bronx for a few years, eventually settling in New City, NY. It was in New City where Carole and Neil doted on their children, Stephanie and Michael, with unwavering love and devotion. Carole lost her beloved husband of 51 years in 2017 after a battle with esophageal cancer. Her broken heart never healed. Carole was always the smartest person in the room, but also the wittiest and funniest. She was an avid reader and spent some of the happiest years of her life working at the West Nyack Library with her best friend Vicki Ernst. She loved Jane Austen, cozy mysteries, history books about the Civil War and World War II, as well as contemporary politics. She was a wiz at the NYT Sunday crossword puzzle and loved drinking coffee at all times of the day. Chardonnay was also a favorite that she enjoyed with her many friends. Carole’s greatest loves, her husband Neil, her children Stephanie and Michael, son-in-law Glen Knichel and grandchildren, Jake and Julia, were the truest source of Carole’s happiness and genuine joy. Carole was always available for big talks or small talks, excellent advice (she was always right) was always up for watching Judge Judy or Downton Abbey. Carole broke her ankle on January 3rd of this year and never recovered from it. She had many complications and setbacks, including advanced dementia. Ultimately she lost her struggle on July 16 with her children by her side. She lived a great life, she was an incredible woman, mother, wife, grandmother, friend, and role model. She will live on in the hearts of her extended family and friends. A service will be held at 3pm on Saturday, August 17th at Wake Memorial Park, 7002 Green Hope School Road, Cary, NC 27519 with a Celebration of Life to follow.

Carole Corona

June 28, 1940 - July 16, 2024