Carole Ann Hammond

Carole Ann (Reichert) Hammond, 85, of Owosso, Michigan, passed away on November 17, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Carole was born on February 7, 1940, to her parents, Jacob and Maxine Laurene (Buckley) Reichert. She was a proud graduate of Owosso High School and devoted her life to becoming a dedicated homemaker, caring for her home and family. On November 14, 1959, she married Donald David Hammond, beginning a remarkable 66-year journey together. Their marriage was built on loyalty, deep friendship, laughter, and a love that everyone around them admired.
Carole was known for her creativity. She loved painting, working with ceramics, decorating, and finding ways to bring beauty into her home and everyday life. She loved having fresh cut lilacs and snowballs from the yard inside her home. She had a lifelong affection for animals, especially cats and dogs who shared her home, and she delighted in the collection of cat figurines. She enjoyed puzzles of all kinds, both crosswords and hands-on puzzles.
Don marked each of their wedding anniversaries with a bouquet of flowers, usually yellow roses and a single red rose. The red rose was for the promise of another year. He often brought her "cuz" flowers, simply "because" he loved her. She and Don loved to travel, especially to the South and to Myrtle Beach, where she could escape the Michigan snow she disliked so much.
Above all, Carole placed her family at the heart of her life. She and Don had their own special family tradition of a little thing called a "love". It is a kiss and a cheek-to-cheek hug. Other traditions included the Reichert family reunions and holiday family gatherings and meals. As a mother, Carole wrote, "seeing my children do well and meet all the expectations I had for them was my greatest reward as a mother." For her husband Don, perhaps the greatest gift of love she gave him as she was nearing the end of her life, was to try one last life-saving measure, for him, when she wanted to give up.
Carole is survived by her loving husband, Donald; her children Dianne (Louis) Chapko, Michelle (James) Chapko, Lisa (Hugh) Dining, and Steven (Heather) Hammond; her grandchildren Chelsea (Levi Peterson) Chapko, Haley (Dillon) Stevens, Jordan Chapko, Tory (Adrien) Johnson, Rick (Jaclyn) Flynn, Dylan (Caitlyn Bedunah) Hammond, and Kaitlynn Hammond; and her great-grandchildren Arianna, Leah, Nathan, Brayden, Noah, Aria, Elianna, Ryker, Haven, Titus, and baby Stevens, expected in January. She is also remembered with love by her two sisters-in-law, Sherry (Jim) Reichert, and Gloria (Bill) Reichert, many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Maxine Reichert, and her brothers, Jim and Bill Reichert.
Carole's unwavering devotion to her family will leave a legacy for generations. She will be deeply missed and forever loved and remembered by her loving husband Don of 66 years, her four children and their families, and many, many others.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 22, 2025 at St Paul Catholic Church, 111 N. Howell St. Owosso, MI. Visitation will be Friday, November 21, 2025 at Watkins Brothers Funeral Homes, 520 W. Main St. Owosso, MI from 4:00-8:00 PM with Rosary at 7:30 PM
Memories and online condolences may be shared with the family at www.WatkinsFuneralHomes.com