Obituary of Carol Ellen Carpentieri

Carol Carpentieri passed away peacefully after a battle with lymphoma that ultimately spread to her lungs on November 28, 2023. Born in Brooklyn in 1941, she was the only daughter of Marie and Nick Mecchella. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband Frank, their three children Diane Frank and Marc, and two grandchildren Austin and Carmela. Carol Mecchella grew up in Valhalla and went to White Plains High School. She met the love of her life, Frank Carpentieri on a double date, both of them on a date with other people. From that time on, Carol and Frank were always working to bring people together and make the world a better place: In the early 70's they fostered cousin Danny and his friend George and Mary when they needed a safe place. During those days life was full of love, long hair, long dresses, Joni Mitchell, Carol king, and Janis Joplin playing at top level. Macrame curtains hung with shells, a peach painted kitchen with lots of colorful characters coming in and out and art, art… everywhere. In the 1980s, during the AIDS crisis Carol and Frank volunteered at God's Love We Deliver where she met her best friend Bobby and a group of volunteers who she and Frank have stayed close with through the years. These volunteers adopted them as their "parents" and our family grew again. When Frank slowly developed dementia in 2012, Carol did everything in her power to take care of him lovingly for a few years. When Frank could no longer be cared for safely at home he entered a nursing home where she visited him nearly everyday. Always shining with a light from within, always shining with an aura, always dressed to the nines with beautiful glasses and jewelry, Carol's passion for life was undeniable. She was known as "Jazzy" at the women's prison where she volunteered for years at the nurses center. Carol was an Artist through and through. She felt it was very important to see the beauty everywhere and to surround yourself with beauty, and she ensured that her family was surrounded with beauty. Her work is full of passion and originality. She began sculpting in 2000 and created paintings, massive intricate freestyle needlepoint and many collages, sculptures and journals. Losing Carol feels like a light switch has been turned off. She has given such gifts to this cruel world and she will be missed. May her memory be a blessing.