Carol Cornelison Moseman's Obituary
Carol Cornelison Moseman, 78, of Mount Dora, Florida passed away Wednesday August 16, 2023.
While recovering from a highly anticipated and much needed back surgery on May 11, Carol experienced cardiac arrest. Her next ninety-eight days and nights were filled with hopeful moments, sad setbacks, moving milestones and revolving medical facilities and staff. Through it all, Doug, Matthew and Stacy each were able to engage with her, share smiles, spend quiet moments together and yes, watch Carol proudly stand straight and tall with her repaired back. Unfortunately, the ongoing mental and physical stress from this rocky recovery took its toll.
Patricia Carol Cornelison was born May 7, 1945 to Anna Mildred (Jenkins) and James Albin Cornelison. Along with older sister Jamie, the family of four lived and worked a 92 acre farm on Barnes Mill Road in Madison County outside of Richmond Kentucky. This made Carol’s very first job title “Farm Girl”. Due to her mother’s job at an elementary teaching school, Carol received a fine education and got to skip second grade, graduating from Madison Central High School in 1962.
Eastern Kentucky University was Carol’s first college foray, studying education for two years, long enough to realize that nursing might be more enjoyable. This brought Carol to Cincinnati, Ohio and Christ Hospital School of Nursing.
During this time, a young engineering student from Cleveland had a car while his fellow classmates did not. It was Friday August 11, 1965, the hottest ticket in town was the Beatles movie Help!, and Doug Moseman drove his 1962 white Ford Galaxy so that a buddy could meet his sweetheart. That young lady’s nursing classmate would make a fine blind date for their driver. Carol often said that Doug spent the evening telling her, “Oh, my mom would really like this movie” enough for Carol to remark, “Well maybe you should have brought your mother on a date”.
After Carol called Doug the next week to suggest that they might go out again, fate was sealed. In early 1966 a fraternity ring was given as an engagement promise followed by an official proposal that fall. “If you don’t know that you want to marry me after two years, forget it.” And the wedding bells rang just in time on September 16, 1967.
Carol had put her nursing skills to work as a Cincinnati public nurse and inside the labor & delivery ward at Huron Lake Hospital in Cleveland
Being the wife of an up-and-coming manager for GE meant that relocation became an art form. First on the list was Binghamton, NY which became the birthplace of Matthew Douglas Moseman January 8, 1970 in the middle of a major snowstorm. Soon came Pittsfield, MA which Carol would declare “It was the pits!!!”
North Carolina promised to be a long-term home and just in time! Stacy Carol Moseman was born March 6, 1973 making the Mosemans a family of four.
While the kids grew, Carol finalized her nursing education at University of North Carolina with a Bachelor of Science - Nursing in 1979. This helped her continue as a nurse, teaching patients at a diabetic clinic.
Carol was the modern working woman, raising children, StairMaster stepping, loving music, reading, loving Christmastime starting in October (because you can never have enough of Christmas), being an alto in the church choir and of course, Bridge (almost Life Master status) filling her life. This is the part of the story where one might chime in about a mother’s fabulous cooking. But most memorable for Matthew and Stacy might be her response when they did not like a meal, “Well, you have to eat as many bites as your age.”
In 1983 Doug’s career led to a resettlement for the Mosemans to Madison, WI, and Carol continued her role as nurse for an eye clinic inside University of Wisconsin. She was known for saying, “I’m the Farm Girl from Kentucky who got lucky!” Yes, she truly did.
After Stacy and Matthew flew the coop for their college years, Doug’s career sent the empty-nesters back east to Frederick, MD. Travel opportunities broadened and Carol was able to add stamps to her passport from Denmark, United Kingdom and more.
Where to next? Eden Prairie, MN. The bitter cold didn’t seem as harsh due to three young girls who made Carol “GrandMom”. Some of the best times for her granddaughters were trips to Carol’s favorite beach, Myrtle Beach. Finally, retirement came.
“We should look at The Villages, Carol.”
“No, I don’t want to.”
“Carol, let’s watch this video about The Villages.”
“I will watch it if you’ll shut up about it.”
That did it! Surrounded by great friends, countless social opportunities and many, many bridge games, Florida became the perfect home base in between their travels. During these warm years Carol particularly enjoyed phoning loved ones back in cold climates to ask about the weather. And those frozen few took the bait every time.
Always “Carol” and never Patricia, (“never, ever Granny Patty!”), with permission from her mother upon her passing, Carol legally changed her first name.
Before relocating to Lakeland, Florida, the golden milestone of 50 years of marriage came on September 16, 2017. With all Carol wanted to do having been done, and so much more, with the love of her life beside her, it indeed was a grand celebration.
Carol’s sense of humor was smart quips usually delivered with a snarky grin. It was a ribbon of wit intertwining through times spent with her, on the phone, or reading one of her t-shirts. Carol once wore a t-shirt that declared, “I plan to live forever - so far, so good”. We can conclude for her, it was pretty good.
Dealing with back pain her whole life due to double curvature scoliosis, Carol had some not-so-good times with surgeries and pain management struggles that escalated during their final move to Mount Dora, FL.
Yet as her world became smaller, her humor made us feel hopeful for a final surgery that promised to restore her back and neck.
Even though that last one-hundred days of Carol’s life were darkened with too many tubes, beeping machines, changing milestones and exhausted hope, we still saw that smile. We saw her witty humor. We laughed. Carol was able to show us her true self a few last times that we will always treasure.
The family is grateful to the many, many friends and relatives who followed Carol’s care journey this summer sending us hopes, prayers and comfort.
Carol is survived by husband Doug Moseman, sister Jamie (Bruce) Weiss, son Matthew (Julie McConaha) Moseman, daughter Stacy Moseman, Granddaughters Amanda (Matty) Billings, Julia Moseman, Lauren Moseman, step-grandson Paxton Mueller, numerous nieces and nephews, and beloved felines Princess and Taffy.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Planned Parenthood, American Heart Association, or a charitable organization of your choosing.
“Remembering Carol” Gathering in Lakeland, FL Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 1:30 - 4:30 pm at the Family Room at Gentry-Morrison Serenity Gardens Chapel, 3350 Mall Hill Dr, Lakeland, FL 33810.
Carol Moseman Celebration of Life in Richmond, KY Saturday, September 16, 2023, 2:00 - 5:00pm
White Oak Pond Christian Church, 1238 Barnes Mill Road, Richmond, KY 40475
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