Carolyn Schwierking

Carolyn Schwierking, 94, of Oregon, OH, passed away peacefully Friday, December 22, 2023, surrounded by family at St. Charles Mercy Hospital. Carolyn the second of four children to Raymond and Marion Ory, was born on July 4th, 1929, in Toledo, Ohio, and was a member of First St. John Lutheran.

Carolyn, blessed with an iron-clad memory, often shared stories of her childhood growing up on Kelsey Street in East Toledo with iceman and milkman deliveries, the Sheeny blowing his horn through the streets, and football games at Waite High School. But, while she grew up in the city, Carolyn’s heart was always in the country and that is best displayed when one summer, at just 10 years old, she and her best friend Ilene, hitchhiked, without telling their parents, to Carolyn’s grandparents farm in Gibsonburg, Ohio. Carolyn was never afraid of an adventure.

One of her most vivid memories was VE Day and how she and friends from the neighborhood went to the downtown area and celebrated the end of World War II and the imminent return of soldiers from across the community. One such soldier was Edward Schwierking, who she soon after met, and spent time dancing at the Trianon Ballroom, catching movies at the Rivoli and Palace Theaters, and shopping at Tiedtke’s. Soon after she and Edward, or Eddy as she called him, were married and they spent the next 58 years together, side-by-side, raising their family, in the country.

In addition to Eddy, Carolyn’s greatest love was her family, nothing was more important to her, and it was that love that kept her lust for life intact up to the very end. As one family member said during her final days, “Just talking with Carolyn made you feel better.” Carolyn had a life well lived!

Carolyn was preceded in death by her loving husband Edward, granddaughter Renee Schwierking, and great-grandchildren Lukas Mason and Isabella Katschke. Carolyn is survived by her ten children, Kathy (Warren) Priest, Raymond (Dorothy) Schwierking, Rod Schwierking, Clint Schwierking, Mark (Marcia) Schwierking, Connie (Rick) Gross, Robin (Joe) Kovesdi, Keith (Rose) Schwierking, Beth (Tod) Donley, Kimberly (John) Roth, and brother John Ory. Carolyn is also survived by twenty-eight grandchildren, forty-three great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren, with whom she enjoyed sharing her life experiences. Carolyn’s heart was big enough for all of us!

Arrangements were handled by Freck Funeral Chapel. Expressions of sympathy can be made to the American Cancer Society or the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Carolyn’s family would like to thank the nursing staff at St. Charles Mercy Hospital for their care.