Caroline M. Marsala

Caroline Marsala, a long-time resident of Atascadero, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 23 at the age of 91. Born on June 04, 1924 in Taft, California, Caroline spent her youth thriving, despite living through the oppressive heat of the desert, the deprivation of the Great Depression, and the startling fear of World War II. She was the daughter of Laurence and Elsie Brandon, sister to Laurence, William and Patrick Brandon and the wife of Anthony C. Marsala. She attended Taft High School and distinguished herself as an actress, performing in high school plays and local small theatre. She auditioned for and was offered a spot at the Pasedena Playhouse in 1941. That opportunity was abandoned when she met her future husband at an NCO club in 1942. Her love for Shakespeare’s plays lasted her whole life, and her children frequently had to “suffer” through impromptu recitations of various Shakespearean monologues. She loved all forms of theatre whether professional or amateur.

From her birth in 1924 to her death in 2015, she lived her life with imagination and energy. She began her adult life as a bookkeeper for the Army Air Corps at Gardner Field in Taft. It was there that she met her husband, Anthony, and together they raised a large family of 7 children—6 girls and one boy, Anthony P. Marsala, who preceded her in death. When she died, she was the matriarch of a family that spanned 5 generations, including 15 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 3 great, great grandchildren. Actively involved in and concerned about her extended family, it’s no wonder that her children and grandchildren saw her as a “professional nurturer,” and nurture she did. She never missed the chance to offer advice, to help heal a wound, or to stir the imagination of anyone she included in what she called her “brood.” She was famous for starting or jumping into her children’s water fights on a hot day in Atascadero, building block “cities” with her children during long winters in Michigan, and teaching her grandchildren to play “so big.” Large family holidays and big family barbeques on the patio were a must. If there was fun to be made, she was always ready to contribute.

Besides her family, she had five constant passions: Cooking, Dean Martin’s music, reading, an occasional Martini, and The Chicago Cubs. The last few days of her life she spent happily rooting for her beloved Cubs, a signed Ernie Banks’ baseball clutched in her hand for good luck. She was easy to love and loved everyone lucky enough to fall into the brood—whether by blood or by circumstance she was a mother to all the people who entered her circle, and all considered themselves lucky to have called her “Mom.” She was a remarkable, smart, and funny woman. She is survived by her extended family who will always miss their amazing mother and grandmother; that “brood” includes Ginger Marsala, Beth and Bob Gerfin, Diane and Larry (“Doc”) Wilks, Susan and Sabine Felsberg-Marsala, Phyllis and Tom Hartness, and MaryAnn (“Mimi”) and John Thiebaud, and, of course, the members of the other 3 generations whose names are too numerous to list.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 7th at 2:00 PM at the Chapel of the Roses, 3450 El Camino Real, Atascadero. A reception follows. Martinis will be served. A memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Sunday, November 8 at St. William’s Catholic Church, Atascadero.