Carolyn Rice

Carolyn Rice Carolyn A. Rice passed away unexpectedly on May 3 in Sacramento, surrounded by her beloved children. She was 88. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Grass Valley, May 24, 11 AM, with a luncheon reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Gold Country Community Services, POB 968, Grass Valley, CA 95945. Carolyn was born to Madelene and Charles McGarrigle in San Antonio, Texas. Carolyn spent her late childhood and teen years in San Francisco and graduated from Lowell HS. She married Edwin Rice in Redwood City where they raised their family before moving to Burlingame. They later moved to Sunnyvale, where Edwin passed away. Carolyn relocated to Grass Valley in 1998 to be closer to her family. As a young mother, Carolyn was active in PTA, led a Girl Scout Troop and volunteered at Mercy High School. She was a lifelong member of YLI, Notre Dame Chapter. While residing in Grass Valley, Carolyn volunteered for St. Patrick Church and Gold Country Community Services and was a member of the Gold Country Celtic Society. As a young woman before her marriage, she was a horsewoman and a rodeo beauty queen. Carolyn enjoyed a diverse and rich work life, from administrative assistant and legal secretary to retail sales. She even worked as a gas station attendant as a teenager. Throughout her life she was an avid reader, an accomplished knitter, loved painting water colors, and enjoyed arts and crafts. She also was very proficient at entering and lucky at winning mail-in contests. She is survived by her children, Susan Rice (Terry Gerling), Janice (Lee) Osborne, Edwin Rice, Jr. of Grass Valley; grandchildren, Adam Sahlin, Brian Sahlin, Danielle Rice; great-granddaughter, Evelyn Sahlin (mother Delores Sahlin) and nieces and nephews, Harriet Holmes and Pat Hillsbury, Deniele Dall’Olmo, Barbara Roland, Jim Lutticken, Milo McGarrigle, Carolyn Lutticken, Sean McClellan. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, husband and siblings, John, Charles and Madelene. Arrangements are under the care of Chapel of the Angels Mortuary in Grass Valley.

Carolyn Rice

May 2, 2014