March 11, 1970 - March 27, 2024
Kathleen “Kate” Marie Carroll Schmid passed away on Wednesday, March 27th, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She was surrounded by her husband and children and many friends and family members throughout her illness, until her death at home.
She was born to Joseph Thomas and Jan Marie (Binger) Carroll on March 11, 1970, in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, where her father served in the U.S. Army. After his service ended in 1972 they moved to Fort Collins, CO, where Kate attended elementary through high school.
Following high school she obtained degrees in anthropology and German from the University of Colorado Boulder. Kate loved her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, and remained active as a volunteer throughout her life. After her graduation in 1992 she moved to London for six months, then to Switzerland to work for a family with two children with severe disabilities. She then moved to Prague, Czech Republic, teaching English as a second language for a year. At the end of the school year, she went back to Switzerland for another summer of working for the same family. It was during this time that she found her passion for helping people with disabilities. After moving back to Boulder she worked at a home for residents with special needs that prepared them for independent living. Later she started working for Boulder Valley Schools as a paraprofessional to work with high school-aged children with special needs. Kate had a strong passion for helping these children prepare for independent living and specialized in helping children with Autism.
In the summer of 1995, she met her future husband Ferdinand, a graduate student at CU Boulder from Germany, at a young adult group at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. In January of 1996, Ferdinand moved to Chicago and the two grew their love for each other despite the physical distance. They married in 1997 and later had five children.
Kate was a loving and devoted mother from the birth of her first child until her last day. She loved taking care of her first baby so much that she decided not to return from maternity leave and committed herself fully to caring for her children. From an early age, she took them to playgroups, music school, and provided loving attachment parenting around the clock. She also became a La Leche League leader and helped other mothers with nursing and infant care. Later she was the primary kid taxi driver, tutor, counselor, and teacher of good manners and kind language for the entire family, including her husband. Kate always found ways to make everyone around her happy. One of her favorite activities was baking and cooking for her children’s wonderful teachers, which sometimes turned the family kitchen into a chocolate fudge factory. Kate was also a dedicated volunteer at her children’s schools. She had a unique gift to focus on the positive and never complain about things outside of her control.
Kate was a devout Catholic, who always sought to deepen her faith. In 2012 she completed a four-year biblical studies program at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. She humbly used her knowledge and strength to lead others by her example in living faithful lives. Her motivation not to give up and to fight her devastating cancer with great patience, despite pain and suffering, was driven by her love for her family.
Kate is survived by her husband Ferdinand, and children Sr. Carina, Patrick, Joseph, Simon, and Brigitte, as well as her parents Joe and Jan Carroll, and her siblings Ginny (Dave Carpenter), Mary Jane, and Tom (Becky).
There will be a visitation followed by rosary, vigil service, and sharing of memories on Thursday, April 4th at 6:30 P.M.; at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Boulder.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, April 5th, at 10:00 A.M., at St. Thomas Catholic Church, followed by burial at Green Mountain Cemetery.
A reception will be provided in the church basement.
