Carol Ann Machelski

Carol Machelski, also affectionately known as Mom, Mama, Grandma or Grammy, was a cornerstone of her family. She was a source of laughter, wisdom, great company and love to those whom she held closest to her heart.
Carol departed from this life, surrounded by loved ones, on April 12 in Columbus, Ohio. She joins her husband, Edward (better known as Ed, Edd
ie, Dad or Papa), in Heaven after nearly eight years of missing him here on Earth. Mama’s family has missed her dearly since the moment she left, but has found some solace in knowing her and Papa are reunited.
After her husband’s untimely passing in 2014, Mama provided an example of resilience and strength to everyone in her family, a template for how to deal with life’s cruel turns and still find reasons to smile in the “new normal.” Her family will now continue to learn from her example. 
Born in Buffalo, New York on December 28, 1944 to Norbert and Eugenia Dziengielewski, Carol was a Christmas present to her family and the world around her. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith and later graduated from St. Mary’s Business School.
Carol first saw Ed playing in a band in the mid 1960s. That evening she called a friend and said she knew she would marry him. It was love at first sight.
The two wed on June 4, 1966 at St. Luke’s. They spent 48 years together on Earth in marriage until May 25, 2014 when Ed was called home by God. After it was resized, Carol wore Ed’s wedding ring on her hand until she joined him again. 
Carol worked at Allied Signal as a purchasing agent. Both she and Ed retired at 50 to move to Columbus. They worked some after that, but mainly focused on spending time with family and traveling, including to their favorite spot, Las Vegas. Mama and Papa also took every grandchild on their first plane trip when they turned 10 — this included trips to Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Canada. 
Mama created generations of game-lovers, teaching bingo, hearts and pinochle, among other games, to her children and grandchildren. Attending bingo with Mama, after turning 18, was a right of passage for the grandkids. Scrabble was also among her favorites and she loved to play spades on the computer, or Phase 10 in a big group. Carol always accepted a challenge and reluctantly accepted defeat. She was a fierce competitor and always made the best of the cards she was dealt (even though she often claimed to be at the mercy of bad dealers). 
Just nine days before her untimely passing, Mama was celebrating the end of a pinochle losing streak at her monthly Saturday game night with family.
Carol enjoyed games that involved skill, strategy and a little bit of luck. She had plenty of skill and strategized with the best of them. While it annoyed her – much to the entertainment of her family – it’s possible she seemed to lack luck at times simply because those who got to be around her were the luckiest people on the planet.
Carol is survived by her beloved siblings Norbert (Eileen) Matthias and Linda (Jerome) Izydorczak, as well as her children Michelle (Tom) Maskulinski and Cheryl (Jeff) Tokasz. Mama/Grandma/Grammy is also survived by her seven grandchildren: Erica, Justin, Allison and Joey Maskulinski; and Hannah, Adam and Reagan Tokasz; and one great grandchild, Boone.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John XXIII Catholic Church on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Brian O’Connor officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Yaya Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for 4H Leukodystrophy by funding and connecting critical research efforts and to providing education, support and advocacy for children and families living with 4H Leukodystrophy.