Carolyn Furca Kleinpeter died on July 20, 2019 after battling mesothelioma for 16 months . She was 75 years old, a native of Hammond, LA, a resident of Pensacola, FL, and lived for over 35 years in Chadds Ford, PA where for 25 years she operated Estate, Tag and Consignment Sales Inc. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, DE, and for many years led the Antiques and Collectibles section at the church’s annual Bazaar to benefit the various missions of the church.
She is preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Lucille Furca, sisters Doris and Jimmie, and brother Kenneth. Carolyn is survived by Joseph, her husband of nearly 54 years, three children and six grandchildren: Shawn (Tara), Emmi and Ava of Mobile, AL; Shane (Sarah), Lena and Lawson of West Chester, PA; and Shannon (Tom Webb), Benjamin and Abraham of West Grove, PA. She is also survived by sisters Catherine, Lottie (Colin Keleher), and Jane (James Aswell) and brother Raymond (Mary), and numerous nieces and nephews.
Carolyn graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1966 with a degree in home economics with a concentration in nutrition. While Joe was in graduate school at Tulane, she worked as an interior decorator and later as a research nutritionist for Tulane Medical School. The couple made their first home in 1968 in Ponca City, OK where Joe began a career with Conoco, and she took graduate courses at nearby Oklahoma State University. Their three children were born in Ponca City, and Carolyn was active in numerous civic and neighborhood activities.
Carolyn strongly supported Joe’s career as the family moved from Ponca City to Glenrothes, Scotland, McMurray, PA, Grand Junction, CO, New Canaan, CT, and finally to Chadds Ford, PA in 1982. In each location, Carolyn quickly set up a new home, became active in school and neighborhood organizations and made many friends. Her culinary skills, arts and crafts talent, gardening and organizing capabilities led friends to call her “the Martha Stewart of Chadds Ford.” She was an avid tennis player and an ardent collector of fine things.
Carolyn was always a striver and an achiever. At Hammond High School, she was in the National Honor Society and at Southeastern Louisiana University she was an honor student, head majorette of the marching band, an active member of the Wesley Foundation, a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and was White Rose Queen. She was runner-up and Miss Congeniality in the 1963 Miss Tangipahoa Parish Beauty Contest.
In 2004, Carolyn established an endowed scholarship in Family and Consumer Sciences at Southeastern Louisiana University to help deserving students from Hammond or other high schools in Tangipahoa Parish. Since then, more than 50 students have received financial aid from Carolyn’s scholarship. In lieu of flowers, you may contribute to The Carolyn Furca Kleinpeter Scholarship, Southeastern Foundation, SLU 10703, Hammond, LA 70402.
Funeral services will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St. Wilmington, DE on Thursday, July 25 at 1:30 PM with a reception at the church following the service. She will be buried at a later date in the Arcola-Roseland Cemetery in Louisiana, pending construction of a mausoleum for her and Joe.
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