Carol Ann (Gardner) McConnell

Carol Ann (Gardner) McConnell, age 90, passed from this life to her heavenly home on March 26th, 2025. Born and raised in Massillon Ohio. Carol graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1952. She joined the Sisters of Charity and then graduated from St. John’s College with her BSN. At age 25, she returned home to Massillon and married Robert McConnell. Together they had three children.

Carol became a nursing instructor at Massillon City Hospital where she served for 34 years. Carol used her God-given gift of caregiving to serve and teach others throughout her lifetime. After the closing of the school of nursing, Carol continued her career at Timken Mercy Medical Center for another 20 years. All the while, she continued her own education, earning a Master’s degree and completed her LMT. After retiring from Mercy, Carol then transitioned to working with elementary students at Massillon City Schools and found working with children very rewarding. Carol is truly a local legend. At just the mention of her name, people will say “she was my favorite instructor!” or “I worked with Carol!”. She also spent a lot of her lifetime volunteering. In fact, she was a volunteer at the American Red Cross until the day she passed. She traveled the world and never turned down an invitation to go to a party or take a trip. She had a zest for life. She never met a stranger and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know new people.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. A.P. Gardner, her brothers, Robert, Bill, Jerry, Joe and David and her sisters, Mary Georges, Alberta Kilpatrick and Frances McLane. She will be greatly missed by her children, Dr Tim McConnell (Shawna), Kevin (Tawny) and Ann Palaski (Josh), grandchildren Justin, Peyton, Graysen, Colton, Sophie, Paul and Frances, and great-grandchildren Leila, Addilyn, Clyde, James and Mila.

A memorial mass will be held at Divine Mercy Parish - St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Massillon on Saturday, April 5th at 11:00 am with Fr. Cebula officiating. Inurnment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends at St. Barbara’s Parish Life Center at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross of Stark County.