Carol Ann Dell

Carol Ann Dell passed away unexpectedly at home on June 30th, 2021.  She was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on November 13th, 1948 to Edwin and Virginia (Moore) Daland. She resided for all of her adult life in northern Michigan, and lived in Alden for the past twenty years.

Carol had a spirit for adventure and in 1971, together with her husband Steve, bought a 100-year-old farmhouse on 18 acres and created a home filled with love and laughter.  As a young mother, she gave her children a childhood full of warmth, adventure, fun, and exploration. She was clever and creative, sewing curtains for the orange Volkswagen van and matching outfits for her daughters and their pets to enter a pet look-alike contest at the Cherry Festival. She loved costumes—the more detailed and zany, the better.  She made a killer lasagna.  Carol has always been passionate about education.  After working for a number of years as a teacher’s aide, she went back to school to finish her bachelor’s degree.   She earned her teaching degree as a non-traditional student and taught for nearly twenty years in Kalkaska Public Schools.  She often took an interest in and gave special care to students that had several challenges in their young lives. She had a knack for striking up conversations with unlikely characters and observing situations and overhearing interesting conversations to which her companions were completely oblivious. Carol loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Mexico, Hawaii, Peru, and France.  But her favorite trips were to Grand Rapids and Oregon to visit her children & grandchildren.  She was a kind and involved Mimi who often reached out to her grandchildren to express interest in their lives and happiness.  That same thoughtful kindness also extended to other family members, neighbors, and friends.  Carol was a breast cancer survivor and offered love and support to family and friends as they were going through their own cancer journey.  Tennis was a big part of her life.  She loved to play and has met many wonderful people and developed life-long friendships through the sport. She and Steve traveled to Cincinnati several times to watch their favorite professional players. A few times, Carol was thrilled to be selected to toss the coin to decide which player would serve first.  Some of her other interests included gardening, reading, ping-pong, sudoku, dancing, forensic science, and murder mysteries. She was a beautiful person, and her friends and family will miss her dearly.

She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Stephen Wesley Dell. She is also survived by her children, Susanne Albaitis & Jennifer Norman (Adam), and exchange student Manuel Ramos; grandchildren Macy & Isabel Albaitis and Max & Quincy Norman; sisters Tomalee Deluhery & Janiece (Rich) Hamblen; and many nieces and nephews who were very special to her. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation and a celebration of life will take place on Tuesday, July 13th.  Visitation will be from 11am to 12pm at Mortensen Funeral Home, 106 S Bridge Street, Bellaire, MI 49615.  The celebration of life will be held at ASI Community Center & Park 102 Maple Street, Bellaire, MI 49615 from 1-4 and memories will be shared at 2 pm.  A taco bar and beverages will be served. Attire is casual for both events and if you have a favorite souvenir t-shirt or sweatshirt, please join us in wearing it.

The family is establishing a memorial scholarship fund in Carol’s name benefitting students from Kalkaska Public Schools.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to this cause. Donations can be sent to:

Carol’s Scholarship Fund, C/O Jen Norman, 4Front Credit Union, P.O. Box 795, Traverse City, MI 49685.

Arrangements have been handled by the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign her online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.