Mary 'Carol' (Phifer) Blondell

November 3, 1950 ~ August 23, 2022 (age 71)

Carol Blondell, 71 of Lakeland, FL passed away Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at the Ernestine M. Raclin House in Mishawaka, IN. Carol was born November 3, 1950, in Gadson, Alabama to Conley and Mary (Hyler) Phifer, Jr. 

On February 21, 1971, in South Bend she married Robert “Bob” Blondell who survives. Along with her husband, she is survived by her son; Brian (Christina) Blondell of Osceola, IN, grandchildren; Alexis, Bryce, and Brenden Blondell. Her sister; Barbara (Maynard) Correll, of Blairsville, Georgia, brother; Conley “Bubba” (Jan) Phifer III of South Bend, niece; Betsy Burgis, and her nephew; Paul Thompson.

Preceding her in death are her parents, daughter; Angela Lynn Wenzel, nephew; David Correll, her father and mother-in-law; Leroy and Esther Blondell.

Carol and her family moved several places with her Dad while he was working for the railroad. Later in her life her family moved to South Bend, and she attended Clay High School. While attending Clay, she took one evening to walk into a corner store in Mishawaka and saw “a hunk of a man she needed to know” that “hunk” ended up being her future husband of 52 years, Bob. Carol later graduated from Clay High School and began working in the accounting department at Raco. She was there for more than 30 years. Her favorite company activity was the Easter egg hunt with all company employees and their families. She would gather with her young grandkids to enjoy the holiday.

Carol was an avid sewer, she loved sewing outfits for her concrete door stoop goose. She even shared these self designed patterns with friends who had their own geese. She was a homestyle southern cook and showed her love through her food. Her son, Brian, especially loved the birthday tradition of his Banana cake. This love of cooking does not mean she didn’t love to eat, Carol’s favorite restaurant was Ho Ping House, she loved to share this meal with family and friends. Carol loved her family and grandkids, who belovedly called her Nana. She also enjoyed quality time with others and often played cards, dominos and reluctantly went to baseball games first for her husband, Bob then for her son, Brian and most recently her grandkids, Alexis, Bryce, and Brenden.

Visitation for Carol will be Friday, August 26, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 27, 2022, at Palmer Funeral Home, 3718 South Michigan Street, South Bend, IN  46614. Graveside service and burial will immediately take place after the service at Southlawn Cemetery, 61430 US 31 South, South Bend. Pastor Scott Smith will be officiating. 

Memorial contributions may be given to Raclin Hospice House, 535 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

Palmer Funeral Home Guisinger Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

Source: FindAGrave.com

05/21/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/242969393/mary-carolyn-blondell