Carol Lynn Baranic, loving, devoted and beautiful wife, mother, nana, sister, aunt and friend, was at home surrounded in love when she was peacefully welcomed into heaven on March 31st, 2022.
She was born January 6, 1951 in Omer, MI, daughter of the late Marie (McCormick) and Harold Schutte.
Carol grew up on the Schutte family farm in Turner, MI. She developed a strong work ethic that carried through everything she did in her life. Her love of music began early, encouraged by her grandparents. Her father traded a piece of farm equipment
for her first piano. By the age of eight she was playing piano at the local church. She attended Arenac-Eastern High School, then went on to earn a master’s degree in music from Central Michigan University, focusing on choral, organ and French horn.
She married Tony Wyrembelski in 1974 and had her first children, Laura and
Danny. She taught music in various schools for 30 years, concluding her career in the Essexville-Hampton district.
She expertly directed countless musicals, concerts, holiday programs and choral performances. Carol was an extremely talented musician and mentored countless students, many of whom went on to become professional musicians, performers and educators. But whether her students became musicians or accountants, her hope was that their love of music would perpetuate and be shared. Her love for God called her to be the full-time musical director at St. Vincent DePaul Church in Bay City for 11 years.
She also led choirs and contributed musically to many other churches throughout her life. Carol gained another daughter, Christie, when she married Andy Baranic on June 31, 2000. Together, Carol and Andy shared a love of traveling, boating and the arts.
Their travels included multiple trips to Hawaii and Europe. Together they went to Riga, Latvia where they participated in the World Choir Games. The highlight of the trip was performing with her French horn for the King and Queen of the Czech Republic. As a gifted planner, she hosted an extensive seven-day tour of Michigan for their fellow members of the West Virginia Mountaineers Motor Home Club. She was a very gifted seamstress, motorhome co-pilot and navigator, vacation planner, problem-solver, gardener, a dedicated NASCAR fan, and made the world’s best chocolate chip cookies. Carol was always thinking of her family, finding ways for her children and grandchildren to stay with them on their
Florida trips and so much more. There was no limit to the lengths Carol would go to for the people that she loved.
She was selfless beyond measure and a positive influence on everyone that knew her. The incredible love she shared with others will live on through us all. Our dear Carol was kind-hearted, generous, and will be missed deeply.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her step-mother Lorena Schutte, brother-in-law, Terry Lectka; and her nephew Kevin Schutte.
She is survived by her husband, Andrew; her siblings, Kaye Lectka and Bob (Jackie) Schutte; her children, Christie (Greg) Alles, Laura (Nick) McCarthy, and Danny (Tiffany)
Wyrembelski; along with her cherished grandchildren, Lily, Katie, Carter, Eliza, and Levi; as well as her wonderful cousins and many dear friends.
Funeral mass will take place on Saturday April 23rd at 1pm at St. Mark Catholic Church in Au Gres, directly followed by a luncheon at Edmunds’ Au Gres Inn. Visitation hours at the church will be prior to mass from 10am-1pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Mark Catholic Church of Au Gres.
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply give you courage.” – Lao Tzu
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