CURRENT CELEBRATIONS

Carol Burton

Carol had a happy place: it was called family. Her husband, children, grandchildren and her sisters were the source of her greatest joy. She had been raised in a loving family; one of 12 children, the Reinerts stayed close throughout their lives. As a mother and grandmother, she was generous with her time, and she listened abundantly. She made time to hear you out; Carol knew difficult times and would respond with a little sage advice and lots of prayer. Regardless the hour, you never ate alone. She followed in her grandfather and father’s footsteps, who were ministers, and co-pastored a church with her husband in Southern N.J. And she always said, “Your faith isn’t faith until it’s tested.” She had a great sense of humor and the uncanny ability to pose for the funniest pictures. She was great behind the stove; famous for her soups, homemade relish and her ability to turn random leftovers into gourmet dinners. Carol had been trained in the art of cake decorating in her earlier years: if the grands wanted a themed cake, she could whip one up. Her favorite food was tomatoes. She always said, “if God created anything better than South Jersey tomatoes, he kept it for himself.” Every year the family rented a house in Ocean City for a week and filled it with love and joy: it was there she had planned to retire. She has a special bench on the Ocean City boardwalk with her and Steve’s name on it. If her T.V. was on, she’d be cheering for the Phillies or listening to worship music. She and her husband had started their family in Cheltenham Village and moved to Woolwich in 1989.
From the days of her childhood, she had known a handsome boy named Stephen. An October date (hot dog roast at the park) led to an engagement in February (on her birthday) and nuptials in May. Their 50-year union was blessed by 7 children: Tammy Sheehan (John), Stephen Jr. (Kimberly), Jeffrey (Tanya), Glenn, Mindy Hooley (Neil), Daniel and Justin (Ivonne); and later by grandchildren, Joshua, Jordan, Finley, Apollo, Lily, Esther and Hazel. She is survived by her siblings, Thelma Thoman, Ralph Reinert, Ronald Reinert, Wanda Kelley, Debra Hartman, Rowland Reinert, Dale Reinert, Charles Reinert, Ruth Schmidt and Darlene Bascombe.
Come celebrate 79 great years, Friday February 16, 9 a.m. to noon at Living Hope Worship Center, 1566 Center Square Road, Logan Twp NJ where there will be a noon service. Interment to follow at Lake Park Cemetery Woolwich Twp.