Carole Ann Wait

Carole Ann Wait. Born 30-October 1937 as Carole Ann Costelow. Died 06-April 2021. An amazing 83-year life! One of the biggest hearts ever, she ultimately ran out of beats. Our Father in heaven reunited her with Gordon Lee Wait, Jr. The Love of her life was waiting with a single red rose and a grin. Their 60 years of married life now but a moment in the eternal memory of God.

Eldest of John Alfred and Kathleen Annette (Rode) Costelow. Big sister to Virginia (Ginny) Costelow of Maple Valley, Washington; Patricia (Patty) Lake of Topeka, Kansas and Christine (Chrissy) Ferguson of Buena Vista, Colorado. A fiercely independent woman, she and her sisters were raised as Amazons! Their parents taught them all to put energy into achieving life goals despite any barriers.

Carole started working in the Costelow Company front office. She earned her private pilot’s license. She married a service man in 1960 that she met at a Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) dance. Three years later they were stationed in France. The family lived off base to learn the language and culture. Mother to John, Kathleen (Kelly), Patrick and Gregory. Grandmother to Nicole, Cynthia, Ashley and Kyle.

Carole grew up in Topeka. But she never tired of reminding her husband that while they both had roots in Kansas City, he was from the wrong state! As a military wife she took the duty states and mobile home living in stride. She focused on the Midwest; Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Iowa and ultimately, they bought a house and retired in Bellevue, Nebraska.

She proudly declared her career as wife and mother. Gordon honored and treasured her for it. Woe to any who called her a home maker. A single income family had its financial challenges. Not to mention life tests from 4 children. She nurtured, tutored, preached, debated, rescued and spanked. Boy Scout Den mother, catechism, choir, band mom, volunteer, advocate and trainer – nothing was off limits. A year when Dad served in Vietnam tested her steel. She grew her kids into adults that made her proud.

Pistol shooter, hunter, water skier, fisher, camper, avid reader, loved to sew and quilt, Omaha College World Series season ticket holder, Minnesota Vikings fan, dog lover, MAGA hat wearing conservative and patriot. When her kids could be left home, she enrolled in Bellevue University. As an adult student and role model she got a Sociology degree, Magna Cum Laude! We were all so proud to see her walk.

Family meant so much to Carole. She made sure her kids visited their grandparents. She loved her sister reunions and get togethers. Carole and Gordon loved to travel and it was twice as good with family. She explored her family tree. And an invitation to a niece or nephew’s life event on either side of the family was almost automatically accepted. And Carole was surrounded by family at the end.

She was a devoted Catholic. She and Dad held youth group meetings, prayer groups, perpetual prayer, marriage encounter, lector, Eucharistic minister, supported retreats and she always believed in woman priests. And when Gordon’s brother, Father Dennis Wait, chartered Sanctuary Of Hope (SOH) in Kansas City she became an ardent annual supporter.

Easy going, but Irish quick to anger. Equally quick to cool. Always ready with a smile. First to offer help. A core of steel and a biting intellect that would surprise people. Carole was the planner/order giver. She also had mechanical aptitude. If something didn’t work, she encouraged you to take it apart and see if you could fix it. “It’s already broke, it’s not like you can break it more!” Years later when confronted with you can in fact break something more, she just laughed and said you’d never know that unless you tried to fix it though, would you?