Carol Ann Fien

Carol Ann Fien passed from this life on November 26, 2025. She is survived by her devoted husband of sixty years Michael W. Fien. She was cherished by her family and friends.
Carol was born on December 26, 1942 at Doctors Hospital in Washington, DC to Margaret Leola Cullitan Ortel and Raoul Benjamin Ortel. The family later moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, which proved to be a wonderful place to initiate Carol's lifelong love of reading and learning. Her childhood home was adjacent to the UT campus, and her family offered board for female students who needed a quiet and safe place to live.
Upon becoming a student herself at Tennessee, Carol continued her scientific pursuits in her degree in Microbiology. She attended the Newman Center (Catholic Campus Ministry) where she met an ambitious and fun-loving engineering student named Michael Fien, who would go on to become her husband and life mate. Mike's career in metals procurement provided wonderful opportunities for the pair to travel and live all over the world. They especially enjoyed their time in China and Westport, Connecticut. Her favorite things included dogs, especially Jack Russell terriers (Sam, Gwenny, Riley), golf, and reading science magazines, particularly on medical research. She was known for sending highlighted science articles to her various family members based on their interests and careers - a sweet memory that we all share.
At retirement age, Carol, Mike, and Carol's mother Miss Leola re-located to Huntsville, AL to be closer to family. Carol enjoyed puttering around the house and monitoring the antics of the various squirrels in the yard which their Jack Russell dogs tormented to no end. She continued to enjoy golfing and served as charter member of the executive women's golf association chapter in Huntsville.
In her last months of life, she greatly enjoyed being a resident at the Brookdale Jones Valley community.
Visitation will start at 12 p.m. on Saturday December 6, 2025 at St Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church in Huntsville, AL. Recitation of the rosary will start at 12:30 p.m. and the funeral Mass will begin at 1 p.m., officiated by Father Jose Ambooken. Burial will follow in Hampton Cove Cemetery (formerly Twickenham Memory Gardens) in Hampton Cove, AL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Eternal Word Television Network, Irondale, Alabama.