I am at a loss for words to describe how beautiful Carole was to me and my family, through our lives, over and over, for decades. My life, and my children’s lives, were greatly enriched by knowing her. She is, without a doubt, THE woman with the biggest heart, that I have ever personally known.

Shauna, now 32, was the reason that Carole and I first met, at her day care, in Hollywood. Shauna loved going to see her, and so later, did my sons, Jason and Johnny. She is carried in all of our hearts and memories.

I remember many times that Carole reached out to help me or my family far beyond what “normal” friends do. She was a super-friend, being there, of course, when I needed day care, but also when I needed help in other areas of life. She assisted me with progress at my Church, she provided a bed for me and my family when we were homeless for a short time, she gave me enthusiasm and good cheer when I needed it, and the true unfettered love of a long time friend. Most of all, I remember the fireworks from the front porch on the 4th of July’s, when she invited us to come by, and the butterfly coffee cup that I drank coffee from when we sat and talked on that same porch, time and again, over the years.

I fell of off that porch, backing too far off the edge when it was crowded with people, that sunny afternoon, at her wedding. I landed in the bushes, got up smiling, and went to find her to tell her. I will never forget Carole’s face as she laughed when I told her, and I know with certainty that the good humor she has will help me recognize her in life in the future.

I truly wish I could be there. I think of releasing a few, or many, balloons and butterflies. I have not yet planted the butterfly garden at my house that I told her I would put in, in her honor. I will think of her every time I see a butterfly from now on. I think perhaps I often did in the 12 years or so since I’ve seen her, already, as butterflies are many around here.

Cassie, Carrie and Cameron, you truly have one of the best mothers in the whole world and in all time. She lives in many people’s hearts and each of you reflect the love she carried and shared throughout her life.

Kathleen Smith ~ Friend since 1990

Carole we enjoyed the dinner at Black Cow that we had together. I would have liked to have known you better. I have heard nothing but great things about you from people that have know you for a long time and everyone has much live and respect for you. I have heard about the daycare that you ran and treated the children as though they were your own.
You left this world, loved, respected, admired, and cherished. The way we all hope to leave when it is our time. RIP.

Laura Tapp ~ Dustin (Carries boyfriend’s) Mom

Carole was a very caring person. She opened her heart and home to many children over the years. She was special to me, because she was Cassie and Cameron’s mother.

Reba Smedshammer ~ family member

The world already misses Carole, what a terrible loss. I can’t articulate how beautiful Carole was both inside and out. She not only made an impression on so many lives but she gave us her beautiful family to carry on the tradition. Carrie is my best friend and she embodies so many of Carole’s qualities. She “gets it from her mama” as I like to say. The same sweet soul, generous heart, and selfless nature. I know there are pieces of her in each of her children, and all of her very large “extended family.”

I’m going to copy and paste from my earlier post. Let me just at that she was a wonderful “surrogate mom” to me and my brothers. and it has always touched my heart how much she got along with my father, and supported him when he really needed support. They always had such a wonderful friendship… and for so many years. She was an angel. (Below is the post I made earlier):

Some people leave a footprint so deep it’s impossible to measure the impact they made on this world. Carole Crest Osgood is one of those people. Starting around 1988 my brothers and I were some of the hundreds of children that Carole helped raise. We spent many days and evenings at her daycare. When she wasn’t raising other people’s children, she was raising her own, and then her grandchildren, and recently even her great-grandchildren. It was apparent that she loved children, she loved her family, she loved people (she was known to open her home to plenty of folks, some passing through, some long-term), and she loved music.

She always supported my father with his music, hiring him to come teach and play for the kids at the daycare, and once she sent me one of her old Left Banke records that he’d played on and told me how much she had loved it. She is the mother of my best friend Carrie Jeanne Crest, as well as Cassie Wagner, and Cameron Crest, and she was like another mother to me growing up, even putting up with my crap in my terrible teens.

Unfortunately cancer took over her body and the recent past has been hard on her physically, mentally, and hard on her family as well. She passed away peacefully February 11th around 1:30am, and although it is devastating that she is gone, it’s comforting to know that she is no longer suffering. The last time I spoke with her, she was far more concerned about everyone else and asked me to take care of her baby Carrie. I promised that I would and I fully intend to keep my word.

Carrie, you are my sister. All of my love to you and your entire family. If there’s anything at all that any of you need or any way I can help lighten the load in any way please do not hesitate for one second to ask me. I love you, and I love your mother. Carole, wherever you are, I hope it’s filled with music, laughter, and love.
Here is a poem I wrote about loss, from the viewpoint of the person who was lost. It’s called “This is not Goodbye”

When I leave this world to meet my maker, I hope that you feel no pain.

In time the sadness will begin to fade but the memories will remain.

We must part for now but will meet again, someday down the road.

This is not goodbye forevermore, just until you are called home.

Let me go now, I’ll be in your heart with each memory and moment we’ve known.

Though you can’t see my face, please rest assured that you’ll never walk alone.

April Snow ~ A long time friend

Carole’s parents lived next door to us, and her sister, Cathy, lived across the street from us, when we lived in Vallejo. Carole was always friendly and smiling. Always enjoyed seeing her when she visited her family.

Debra Schueler ~ Friend