Carolyn Ann Cross

1988 - 2017

Carolyn Ann Cross
July 19, 1988 - August 13, 2017
Sunnyvale
Carolyn Ann Cross, resident of Sunnyvale, beloved daughter to Melanie and Peter Cross, sister to Lizzy Cross and Brian O'Donnell, friend to many, passed away on August 13, 2017 after a brief illness. A headstrong, resilient, and deeply creative individual, Carolyn was off running from her earliest infancy. She loved animals and kept them as cherished companions throughout her life; she is survived by her "dog-ter", Kika, and two precocious cats, Lily and Nala. Carolyn built and maintained deep and abiding friendships throughout her life, nurturing prolific shared and personal creativity with her peers, and building easy rapport with strangers. A profound appreciation of music and a generous spirit afforded her an uncanny knack for finding perfect songs for friends and family. She leaves behind dozens of paintings, sketchbooks brimming with comics she created, and letters demonstrative of her inventive humor and sharp mind. She studied Art and Biology with equal fervor at UCLA, Foothill and independently.
From her earliest days until her death, Carolyn would be referred to by others as "fearless." She led a life full of passion and excitement—but also one of frustration as she tried to navigate her own path in a rule-ordered world. As a result, self-medication for depression led to addiction eventually overtaking her health, including a stroke 6 ½ years ago. This left her physically impaired, but not affected intellectually or verbally. She retained a vibrant personality and could light up any room she entered.
Carolyn's lifelong defiance of expectations and standards, often an admirable attribute, was never more tragic than during her decade long battle with the pervasive and deeply misunderstood disease of addiction; a disease that kills indiscriminately and is being fought with desperately inadequate treatments and research. Donations to NAMI are encouraged by the family.
Despite incredible challenges, at the end, Carolyn's resilience was undiminished. She had found an upward path in the last few years; working hard at recovery and resuming her formal education. She and her love, Patrick Blaine, were engaged and planning for a bright future.
Carolyn was born on July 19, 1988, a long-awaited addition to the Cross family of Palo Alto, California. She is deeply missed by all who knew her.


View the online memorial for Carolyn Ann Cross