Carol Friedman Lader

Naples - Carol Friedman Lader, beloved wife of Marvin Lader, died in Naples, Florida, on April 2, 2025.

Carol was the loving mother of Deborah Lader, David Lader and Ellen Sternweiler. She is also survived by her sister Janet Imerman, her brother Alan Friedman and their families; her devoted son-in-law Michael Silver; and her cherished grandchildren Evan and Daniel Silver (and his wife Kristine Else), Linnea and Noah Lader, and Elijah, Jonah and Hannah Sternweiler.

Born in Akron, Ohio, on September 10, 1936 to George and Edith Friedman, Carol attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland, graduating with a major in art history. After graduating, she married Marvin Lader and settled in Cleveland. There she invested her talents and energy in work as an interior designer and as a collector of early American furniture and furnishings.

Aside from being a meticulous interior designer with impeccable taste, Carol was a naturally gifted and joyfully messy printmaker, painter, and multimedia artist with studios in Chicago and in Naples. Her paintings, collages, and prints grace the walls of many private collections and nonprofits, and her design talents are evident in the home she shared with her husband Marv.

Carol shared with her husband a passion for philanthropy, supporting social service agencies in Cleveland, Naples and Chicago. In Cleveland, she served on the board of Montefiore Home, where she was also consulted on accessible design for Alzheimer's residents. She was named a Lion of Judah by the Jewish Community Federation.

Carol was an early supporter and Lifetime Honorary Trustee of Milestones Autism Resources in Cleveland. An organization created to offer education and guidance to families with members on the autism spectrum, Milestones has become a vital part of the national autism community.

Committed to her family, her work and her communities, Carol Lader was equally committed to her wide circle of friends, all of whom remember with great fondness her winning smile, her mischievous sense of humor, her gracious presence and her generous spirit. No one could light up a room like Carol. Services were held Sunday, April 6 in Cleveland, OH. To View the service, please go to www.bkbmc.com and select Carol Lader obituary, scroll down to the Services Section and click on "JOIN LIVESTREAM".

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Carol's memory to any of the following service organizations that Carol championed:

Milestones Autism Resources (Cleveland, OH) https://www.milestones.org/

Chicago Lighthouse (Chicago, IL) https://chicagolighthouse.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImcPg7Oq8jAMVqCeDAx2tXgvnEAAYASAAEgJVsfD_BwE

Baker Senior Center Naples (Naples, FL) https://www.bakerseniorcenternaples.org/