In Memory
Carol Ann (Noble) Rupchock
December 17, 1937 ~ March 15, 2025 87 Years Old
Carol Ann Rupchock (née Noble), a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away on March 15, 2025 at her retirement home near Seattle after an extended illness. Born December 17, 1937, in South Bend, Indiana, Carol grew up and lived in the Michiana area most of her life. A 1956 graduate of John Adams High School, Carol married Steve Rupchock on July 26, 1958. Together, they raised five children in South Bend and later in Edwardsburg, Michigan. She moved to the west coast in 2011 after Steve’s death to be closer to her children and grandchildren.
In addition to raising five kids and taking care of the house and many cats and dogs, Carol worked for over 20 years in a South Bend pediatric office, where she found joy working with children in her role as a physician’s assistant. She loved babies and had a magical way of calming them. A woman of deep faith, she was a longtime member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, where she found strength and solace in her community, and served as a volunteer with the food bank there.
A lifelong lover of music, Carol played the accordion in her youth, and greatly enjoyed the music of Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra, both recorded and in concert. Carol was a fan of Notre Dame football to the end, despite efforts to convert her into a Michigan Wolverine fan by her children (three UM alumni) and husband.
Carol is survived by her son, Don Rupchock (wife Toni) of Seattle; her daughter, Mary Noble of New Delhi, India (granddaughter Asha Obermeyer); and her daughter Kathryn Pizzo (husband Mike, granddaughters Tessa and Kara) of Seattle. Her three granddaughters were perhaps her greatest joy, and she cherished every moment spent with them, baking cookies and pies, picking apples and cherries, and helping them find garage sale treasures with her on Saturday mornings. She is also survived by many in-laws, nieces, and nephews, all of whom she held dear. Carol embraced her role as backup mom and grandmother to her sister Norma’s family after Norma’s death and made frequent trips to the Chicago area to be with them.
Carol was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Steve (2010); her sons, Tom (2019) and Rick (2009); and her infant daughter, Patricia (1960). She was also preceded in death by her two siblings, sister Norma Kent (1997) and brother Bob Noble (2017).
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate and caring staff at English Hill Care Home in Redmond, Washington, especially Sarah and Ileen, for the comfort and love they provided Carol during her final years.
Visitation is planned from 5:00 to 8:00 PM June 26, 2025 at Palmer Funeral Home, Hickey Chapel, South Bend. Funeral services will be held at St Pius X Catholic Church in Granger June 27, 2025 at 10:30 AM, with visitation at the church at 9:30. Gravesite services and burial will follow at Smith Chapel Cemetery on Redfield Road in Niles. In lieu of flowers, the family asks instead for donations to the food bank at St Pius X. https://stpius.net/svdp
3/21/2025 djb
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