Carolyn Ann Richbourg

Services for Carolyn Ann Richbourg will be Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at Saint’s Peter and Paul Chapel at 10:00 AM with Bishop Joseph Strickland and Bishop Edmond Carmody officiating. Burial will follow at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery under the direction Stewart Family Funeral Home. The beautiful soul of Carolyn Ann Richbourg was called to heaven on June 27. Carolyn was devoted to her large family and her Catholic faith. She lived a life of kindness, giving of herself in ways small and large, in every part of her life. Carolyn and her husband Vincent J. Richbourg were introduced by college roommates in 1961 while she attended Seton Nursing School in Austin. They were married in 1964, had eight children, and would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in October. She died peacefully on Friday evening, with her family gathered around her, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, six months after being diagnosed with lymphoma. Carolyn was a compassionate registered nurse who enjoyed interacting with patients. Her first nursing job had been at M.D. Anderson in 1961. She went on to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kerrville, Texas, and after marriage worked at Mother Frances Hospital. For 17 years while raising her family, she did not work. Most recently she spent 14 years as the nurse for Dr. Rodney Weisman in Whitehouse. After retiring in 2004, Carolyn was a volunteer for seven years at Birthway crisis pregnancy center, and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. At FitSTEPS for Life she was named Volunteer of the Year. Since 1967, she was a devoted member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas, serving six years as state District Deputy, 12 years as Regent (President) of Court #1288 Mary A. Drake, and as a member of many state committees. Carolyn was happy, friendly and steady. Her uncontrollable and contagious fits of laughter will be remembered by all who knew her well. When at home, she most loved working outside, brightening every corner with flowers and expanding every bed to hold more. An annual trip to an Oklahoma river cabin with family and friends was a highpoint of her year for more than three decades. Three nights a week for the past 15 years, Carolyn and Vince would dance, country-western style, with a large and close-knit group of friends. Carolyn brought countless blessings to her husband Vince and their children and spouses: Greg and Christy Richbourg of Tyler, Janet and Brian Windham of Midlothian, Judith and Ron Carnes of Tyler, Diane and Dan Webber of Houston, Kenneth and Rae-Ann Richbourg of Tyler, Alan Richbourg of Tyler, David and Ashley Richbourg of Midlothian, and Daniel and Janice Richbourg of Tyler. Beloved brother-in-law, Patrick Osborn, resides in Garland. Carolyn and Vince have 10 grandchildren who adored the sweet, patient ways of their “Gran:” Bradley and Ryan Richbourg, Andrew and Joshua Windham, Grace, Samantha and Lily Webber, Caroline and Joseph Richbourg, and Thomas Richbourg. Another granddaughter, Isabel Ann Richbourg, will arrive in October. Carolyn was born on Dec. 1, 1939, one of seven children to Mary Louise Maurer Kunz and Theodore Kunz. Both parents are deceased. The Kunz children grew up in Kerrville, and her siblings and their spouses remain in the area. They are: Sidney and Jean Kunz, Marion and Kermit Strackbein, Vera Grona, Herbert Kunz, Andrew and Bernice Kunz, and Vernon Kunz. The family also includes many nieces and nephews and their children. Pallbearers will be Carolyn’s brothers Sidney, Herbert, Andrew and Vernon Kunz, sons-in-law Brian Windham, Ron Carnes and Dan Webber, and family friend Kevin Simpson. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Saint’s Peter and Paul Chapel with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Carolyn’s name to the Tyler Catholic School Foundation’s Richbourg Family Scholarship Fund (or any TCSF fund of your choosing) or FitSTEPS for Life (Cancer Foundation for Life) in Tyler. Donations to TCSF may be sent to P.O. Box 131175, Tyler, TX 75713. CFFL donations may be sent to P.O. Box 8257, Tyler, TX 75711.

Carolyn Ann Richbourg

December 1, 1939 - June 28, 2014