Obituary of Carol M. Gillespie

Middletown, NY

Carol Marie Gillespie, 55, passed away peacefully in her sleep early on April 25 at her home in Middletown, New York. Carol was born at Arden Hill Hospital on August 24, 1964, to Maryann and Bruce J. Gillespie.  Carol joined her older brothers, Randy and Robert completing Doc and Maryann’s family.  The family lived in Worley Heights, Blooming Grove, where they enjoyed a supportive group of neighbors who became life-long friends.  Carol attended school in Washingtonville, graduating from Washingtonville HS in 1982.   

After earning an Associate’s Degree at OCCC and a Paralegal Certificate from LIU Post, Carol worked as a paralegal and applied her focus to title searching. Soon she started her title search business, A-1 Abstracts, 89’ to present.  Carol married Carl Vogt in 1994, remaining friends after divorcing.  She was involved in community service and attended Transformation Church.

Learning to love travel early, Carol’s family made many visits to NYC, upstate camping, and Disneyworld.  In addition to sunny destination spots with friends and time with retired parents in Florida, Carol’s later adventures included visiting family out West, exploring Arizona, California, and Oregon.   She met relatives in England and most recently enjoyed Greece and Italy with her cousin Michele.

Carol loved to shop and thoughtfully chose the perfect gifts for nieces and nephews and to encourage friends.  Carol shared many interests with her friends and was a master baker, her cakes and other desserts often requested at gatherings!  From quilting and needlework to candles and homemade Christmas cards, decorations, and gifts, Carol expressed creativity in countless ways.  She enjoyed learning new skills, including how to row competitively and became a certified yoga instructor.   Carol loved animals, with decades rescuing and restoring cats to health, enjoying their antics and companionship, and supporting rescue organizations.  From Skippy found abandoned with his head stuck in a glass jar, to her special buddies Sadie, Oliver, and Benjamin, each cat had a story that reveals Carol’s compassion.  In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a donation in Carol’s memory, Pets Alive of Middletown would be grateful.

Carol was predeceased by her parents in 2016.  She is survived by her two brothers and their wives, Randy and Robin Gillespie of Canaan, NY and Robert and Barbara Smith-Gillespie, of Eugene, OR; niece Becky Gillespie and nephew Jason Gillespie; nephew Jesse (Andrea) Smith-Gillespie, and children, nephew Ethan (Rachel) Smith-Gillespie and children; niece Aubre (Joel) Rustad, and daughter.  Cousins Michele Gillespie, Lisa Gillespie and children, Fernando (Tami) Velez and children, Diane (Frank)Rossiello and family; Uncle Frank and Aunt Sally Ryan, and family, Aunt Pat Brower and family; Hazel Gillespie and family, England; more Plechavi family, and many friends.

Interment will be at Walkill Cemetery in Middletown with a future gathering anticipated.  Please share your fond memories of Carol online at https://zmmemorials.com/.

Donations may be made to Pet's Alive Inc. 363 Derby Rd, Middletown, NY 10940.

Funeral arrangements are honorably entrusted to Zygmunt-Murtie Funeral and Cremation Service- Proudly serving Warwick and the surrounding communities. For directions or to leave a condolence please call 845-977-6127 or visit www.zmmemorials.com.