Catherine J. Carroll 1943-2026

She was born Jan. 28, 1943, in Struthers, the daughter of Henry and Blanche Begalla Clark.

Catherine graduated summa cum laude and got her master’s degree in education. She was an elementary school teacher for 25 years. But her true passion was music, which she pursued by returning to school for a second master’s degree when she was nearing her 60s. She was the music director at St. Catherine Parish in Lake Milton.

At St. Catherine’s, some of her major accomplishments were creating/directing a handbell choir and getting a pipe organ installed at the church. Catherine started her journey in music playing the accordion as a child, then moved on to piano and finally the organ when the parish priest asked if she wanted to take over as organist. She took lessons and eventually mastered a 3-4 manual organ with 2 1/2 octaves of foot pedals. She loved to play the pipe organ at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. Following in the footsteps of Bach, she liked to “open the lungs” of the pipe organ, sometimes startling the cleaning staff or disturbing confessions.

Catherine also added another degree to her collection and received a degree in pastoral ministry from Loyola College in 1990.

Catherine was married to Ray Carroll for 60 years until his passing in 2021. They met while roller-skating and were quite the pair to watch performing the flea hop.

They lived in Youngstown at first, but moved to a 50-acre “farm” near Lake Milton. They had two children, Elaine Carroll and John Carroll (Jill); two granddaughters, Molly (Samantha) and Shannon; and two great-granddaughters, Lorelei and Willow.

Catherine moved to Vitalia Assisted Living in October 2024, where she quickly fit into a supportive community. Here, she was nearer to her children and great-granddaughters who loved to visit and search for treats.

Catherine was an avid reader and liked to work in the flower beds at the farm. Catherine also continued her musical journey by streaming tunes on her Alexa devices. She would of course listen to Bach, but also Billy Joel and Disturbed.

Catherine had health issues, but she was a fighter. We will all miss her.

Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown.

Please join Catherine’s family and friends for a celebration of life Mass at 1 p.m. Aug. 1, 2026, at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish-St. Catherine Church, 1254 Grandview Road, Lake Milton, OH 44429.

Please visit www.borowskimemorialhome.com to send condolences to the family.

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