Carolyn Frances (Brenza) Wendell passed into eternal life surrounded by loved ones on June 11, 2024. Carolyn was 76 years old and had lived a life full of love and laughter.  She was married to David Boyd Wendell, who, along with her five children, were privileged to care for her in her final days. She had suffered for a year from cancer, and her last years were fraught with much physical suffering. Through it all, Carolyn appreciated the love and care of family and friends, expressing gratitude for her life filled with God's blessings.

Carolyn and David were married for 57 years. She loved being the mother of her five children: Caren, wife of Joseph LeMark; Sarah, wife of Fr. Calin Tamiian; David, husband of Lili; Faith, wife of Manuel Dauvin; and Louise, wife of Darin Mohr. She loved each of her 28 grandchildren: Joseph (fiancee Bronwyn Leitch), Samuel, Maximillian, Thomas, Issac, Gemma, Clare, and Peter LeMark; Sanziana, Magdalena, Alexandru, and Zamfira Tamiian; Evangelyn, David, Joan, and Louis Wendell; Miriam(+), Avila (fiance Sebastian Morzen), Josiah, Ephrem, Zachery, Esther, Abel, and Beata Dauvin; and Rowena, Gabriel, Jeremiah, and Felicity Mohr.

Everyone who knew Carolyn will remember how warm and welcoming she was. We can still hear her wonderful, legendary laugh and see the light in her eyes. Her humor and compassion, her solid good sense, and depth of sensitivity are cherished gifts we all miss so much, and all will endeavor to carry on in living remembrance. She was one of those rare souls who seem to be indispensable to those around her. How we will live without her seems an unanswerable question.

Carolyn lived by faith, principle, and profound awareness of the lovability of others. She loved life and especially being a mom. She taught her children and grandchildren the importance of treasuring sweet memories, reading the Bible, and that people are more important than things. She was motivated by her faith in God and could listen and give advice for hours on end, often to people she just met.

Carolyn was a true homemaker, providing an oasis of warmth, love, and comfort for family and many friends. She reached out from her heart through her artistic way of making her house a lovely home with good taste and creativity. When she made sock monkeys for each of her grandkids, she made sure their eyes were the correct color for each child, and the log cabin quilts she made for each of her own children were colors she felt suited their personalities. Everyone thinks of her with a child in her arms. Her grandchildren loved it when she snuggled with them on the couch and read classic children's books to them.

Carolyn was born on November 6, 1947, in southern California, daughter of Frank and Carol Brenza.  She was always close to her younger brother, Bill Brenza and was so happy he finally gave her a sister when he married his wife, Carol. She spent her youth visiting sunny beaches with friends (with her baby brother in tow). In high school she enjoyed playing the clarinet in the marching band and was even asked to be the secretary of the Venice High Jazz Band, "The Crescendos", in which her organization and personnel skills came to light, for even then she could work with many personality types. Carolyn's love of music carried her through many hard times; her children love to remember their mom both singing and dancing with their dad, and she was still keeping time with her toes almost until her last day.

Carolyn loved Oregon, but she had very fond memories of her childhood in southern California.  She graduated from Venice High School in 1968, and that was the year she met and married David Wendell.  It was love at first sight for both of them.  She knew right away that they would marry, and that spark never left. Music and fun drew them together, but more than that, they were both attracted  to one another's kindness and authenticity. Thus began a long spiritual journey together that eventually brought them and their children first to Oregon in 1977 and then into the Catholic Church in 1984.

She was also an advocate for life at all stages and places. She worked at Oregon Right to Life for 13 years and founded VOCAL (Voices of Catholics Advocating for Life).

Carolyn also loved animals. At one time she had a flock of geese who were devoted to her, besides horses, goats, donkeys, chickens, and many beloved cats and dogs, aquarium fish, and even wild birds, especially hummingbirds.

So many lovely things will remind us of her: flowers, birds, babies, and the ocean waves.

She is preceded in death by beloved granddaughter, Miriam Dauvin, and twin daughters who died in utero, whom she longed to know.  We believe she will see the good things of the Lord in the Land of the Living. Heaven has become even more inviting now that she is with God. A great reunion is surely happening there.

In lieu of flowers, donate in her name to Hope Pregnancy Clinic and Oregon Right to Life