CAROL CHISHOLM COHEN

COHEN
CAROL CHISHOLM
"_____'em if they can't take a joke." was often said by Carol Chisholm Cohen, who passed away early Saturday morning at age 69. The official cause of death was complications from pneumonia, but she really died of a broken heart after the loss of her beloved husband, Jeffrey H. Cohen, only six days prior. She ascends above to watch over sons, Dr. Michael (Nicole) Cohen of Tucson, Dr. Joshua (Maria) Cohen of Squirrel Hill, Jason Brown of New York and Justin Brown of Wilkinsburg; grandchildren, Cole, Julien, and Ava Cohen; and siblings, Thomas Chisholm of Florida, Margaret "Peggy Jean" (Edward) Cavanaugh of Penn Hills, Kathleen (David) Swan of Penn Hills, and Colleen (Richard) Wolfson of Swisshelm Park; as well as many nieces and nephews. She also joins her parents, Raphael and Margaret Chisholm in the next world. Carol grew up in a poor Irish/Scottish family in Garfield. The second oldest of five children, she helped raise her siblings and would treat them to a Pepsi if they went to the store to buy her cigarettes. Always rebellious and confident, she became an emancipated minor at age 17 and began an exciting career in retail publicity and sales of fashionable clothing. In 1970, with friends she founded The Opening Nite Co. boutique in Oakland, selling hip clothes and accessories. While managing the store, she was arrested for desecrating the American flag when she sold decals of a peace sign superimposed on a flag background. (Her charge was later expunged.) Later that year she helped organize the first Shadyside Arts Festival, which continues to this day. She became a homemaker, and after meeting her second husband, Jeffrey, headed a fun, creative, noisy home where they raised their four boys and enough pets to fill a zoo. Despite her overburdened chores, somehow Carol maintained her sanity and produced many creative works. A playwright and satirist, she addressed issues of modern life especially pertaining to the female experience. Her first book is a satirical collection of essays entitled "How Can I Find Myself When I Always Lose My Keys?" She also participated in advanced playwriting courses at CMU where her play "The Bottom Line" was produced, in which her young sons played four rough-and-tumble little people. Starting in the mid-90s, Carol volunteered her time at Children's Hospital, bringing her sweet Akita dogs, Arlo and Bartlett, to comfort terminally ill children, and also volunteered at the store Ten Thousand Villages which helps underprivileged communities and artisans abroad. She was incredibly generous and would give you everything she owned if you needed it. Later in life she rediscovered her love of painting, and after taking classes at The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Touchstone Center for Crafts, her paintings were part of shows at the Frank L. Melega Art Museum, where her works part of the most recent show "Surface-Emergence- Explosive" are still on view. She was dubbed "one of the best contemporary abstract painters" by the museum's director. Last year she proudly became a member of Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. Carol had fiery hair and a personality to match. She loved to "boogie," swore like a sailor, loved desserts, Elvis, dirty jokes, presents, photography, colorful clothing, chipped ham, gardening, April Fools Day pranks, threw legendary parties and made killer grilled cheese sandwiches. Her big mouth often got her into trouble, but you always knew where you stood with her. A lifelong struggle with chronic pain began after a car crash at age 18, but this tough cookie never let her pain get in the way of living a fabulous life. Family was everything to her, and she loved holidays because she could be with those she loved. Her grandchildren brought her immense joy and she spoiled them rotten whenever she could. She was a passionate, vibrant soul who simply loved life. Friends received at McCABE BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 6214 Walnut Street, Shadyside on Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., followed immediately by a celebration of her life from 1-2 p.m., with a reception at the family home following the celebration. Please wear colorful clothes or accessories if you feel comfortable, as Carol brought much color into the world. Last week the obituary of her husband, Jeffrey H. Cohen, went viral, gaining international attention with its humor. She would like to thank everyone who pledged to honor Jeffrey's request not to vote for Donald Trump. And to Jeffrey's detractors / Trump supporters - beware, she will likely haunt you until the election.