In honor of Carol O'Brien

Carol Beltz O'Brien died on Wednesday, November 15th in Cape Coral, FL after a brief hospitalization and excellent care by the team at Hope Hospice. She was predeceased by her brothers James and Carl and her beloved son, Peter O'Brien.  She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Philip; her daughter Emily, son-in-law Rob Iafrate  whom she loved as if he were her own, and her only grandson Lucas.

Carol and Phil were high school sweethearts, married in 1973 and spent 50 years annoying each other, raising kids, taking vacations and in the last 18 months, watching Below Deck and the Real Housewives together.

Carol was the Records Secretary at Lakeview High School from 1995 to her early retirement in 2005. She retired to their condo in Cape Coral, FL in 2005 while Phil continued to work and she only went back to Michigan when she was forced to.

Luckily for everyone, she made a two week trip up to Michigan this summer and was able to spend time in Grand Rapids with her daughter, saw her grandson playing in his backyard with all his neighborhood friends and spent time in St. Clair Shores to catch up with old friends and family. That trip boosted her spirits and she was her best self during that time.

Carol had been struggling with her her health since Peter died in 2020 and we are grateful that she is at peace and is no longer in pain or discomfort. 

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Put It On Pete’s Tab, Inc.  Celebrations of life will be held in Cape Coral in February and in Michigan in the spring.