Carol Jean Mellon

Carol Mellon passed peacefully Thursday morning, January 12, 2023, in Clermont, Florida. She was 86.

Born Carol Jean Griffin to Herbert and Myrtle in Toledo, Ohio, Carol grew up in a loving family. She attended Waite High School and was editor of school newspaper The Sizzle, setting a foundation for service, good communication, and always knowing what was going on. She worked at Ohio Bell for several years as an operator and supervisor with her sister Pat. In 1957 she met Jim, a dashing brother of her co-worker Pat Lemke. He would become her beloved husband of 60 years. Jim and Carol opened their home to friends and family and perfected the art of hosting and celebration. In 1966, they moved their family to Detroit, Michigan, a state which became their home until they retired to Florida in 1999. As a young mother, Carol volunteered tirelessly at the kids’ schools, as President of the PTG, for Muscular Dystrophy, as a school librarian, and for the Milan Tigers football club she and Jim helped to establish. The family enjoyed vacations Up North in Michigan and in their Winnebago traveling around the country. Carol found joy in and had talent painting, often spending her free time working on ceramics.

After moving to Florida, she volunteered weekly for 15 years at her grandchildren’s elementary school in the library and cafeteria at St. John Vianney Catholic School in Orlando, where she would deliver homemade cookies to the grandkids and their friends. When she wasn’t at a grandchild’s sporting event at St. John's or Bishop Moore, Carol was loyal to Wednesday Bingo, the Kings Ridge Brighton neighborhood lunch club, Meals on Wheels, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. She developed true friendships along the way and loved a good long phone conversation to keep up with family, friends, relatives, and Kings Ridge happenings. She will be remembered for her thoughtfulness and dedication to her family, someone who always prioritized the things that truly matter in life. Her children and grandchildren proudly inherited the gift of entertaining, making a house a home, showing up, and loving fiercely. Carol is survived by her loving children Jim Mellon, Peggy Fernandez (Carlos), Patti Johnson (Eric Scott), grandchildren Lucien Johnson (Caroline), Caroline Fernandez, Erin Johnson, Griffin Johnson; son-in-law Lucien Johnson III; brother Paul Griffin; sister-in-law Patricia Lemke; many nieces, nephews, and extended family. She is preceded in death by husband Jim, parents Myrtle and Herbert, sister Patricia Griffin; many sisters and brothers-in-law including Gretchen Griffin and Conrad Lemke. The family would like to thank the caring staff at Benton House and Lakes of Clermont, who took care of Carol with much kindness.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the St. John Vianney Catholic School class library fund c/o Cathy Marshall, SJV Principal, 6200 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809, or a charity of your choice.

 

We will celebrate Carol’s life with a Visitation on Wednesday, January 18th at 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church in Clermont, FL, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. A gathering for friends and family will take place at the Blessed Sacrament ministry center immediately following the Mass. A burial service will be held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL at 2 p.m.