SCHENECTADY Carol Christopher Spencer experienced her last Michigan sunset this summer, returning home to Schenectady where she passed away peacefully on October 9, 2018, with her ten children and loving family members by her side. She will be joining her husband Donald Joseph of 52 years, her parents, aunts and uncles, sisters, three granddaughters, and many other loving relatives and friends who have predeceased her. They no doubt, will be celebrating her arrival with one of her favorite activities: a wonderful sing-a-long around the piano. Carol was born on April 6, 1930, in LaSalle, Ill. to Mary and Thomas Christopher. She spent her formative years in Illinois, graduating from LaSalle Peru High School in 1948. She went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned a degree in psychology. While at the University of Wisconsin, she volunteered at a USO dance, meeting the love of her life, U.S. Air Force Private Donald J. Spencer; soon after sailing to England to marry him. They had their first child, Susan in England, with the following nine children being born at Saint Clare's Hospital in Schenectady, just blocks from the family home. Carol and Don raised their ten children in this home; providing a loving and welcoming place for family get-togethers that often included their grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild. A devout Catholic and parishioner of Saint John the Evangelist Church, Carol sang in the choir and actively supported the church's restoration campaign. Carol resided most of her adult life in Schenectady. However, she loved and lived for summers at her place on Lake Michigan, spending the days admiring the lake, watching sailboats, waves, clouds, and the beautiful sunsets which she wrote passionately about in her annual Christmas letters to family and friends. Carol devoted her life to others, whether they came in the form of her evergrowing family, or those grieving the loss of loved ones. She served on the Schenectady Human Service Planning Council, and volunteered countless hours serving as executive director of Haven in Schenectady, a non-profit organization committed to helping those with terminal illnesses as well as providing grief counseling and support to their families. She was always one to reach out to a neighbor or a stranger in need. Her soul lives on in the many who are here because of her. A passionate reader and writer, Carol's intellect was with her to the final hours. She was an active participant and loved her time with the Grand Beach Book Club. On her last trip to the Notre Dame Campus this summer, she visited the bookstore, coming home with a beautiful smile and a stack of books which she no doubt intended on getting lost in as soon as she got home. She also had a passion for knitting, spending afternoons at the Sit & Knit in New Buffalo, Mich. Christmas Eve will always be filled with memories of mom putting the final touches on her beautifully crafted sweaters, which she made for all of her children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren. Carol is survived by her ten children: Susan (Nancy Wagner), Paul (Steve), James (Diane), Kathleen Johns, Michael (Lisa), Nancy Towler, Robert, Tom (Joanne), Chris (Nancy), and Mary Riker (Steve); granddaughters, Mae Star Salinsky (Matt), Bridget, Siobhan Sloan (Evan), Brianna, Kelly, Emily, Mary Mitchell and Margaret Mitchell; grandsons, Dylan (Iesha), Nathan Towler (Andrea), Curtiss Johns, Kevin Johns, Jameson Spencer, and James Fake; great-grandchildren, Keirsten Kaplan (Lucas), Kayleigh Becker, Layla and Miyah Miner, Sequoia and Kestrel Salinsky, Cecelia Towler, Joseph Towler, Kaylee, Tyler and Aiden Fake; and great-great-granddaughter Jemma Kaplan. She is also survived by her two sisters-in-law, Jean Bourgeois and Elizabeth Spencer; and her devoted dog, Buster.