Carole Raymundo, born Sept. 6, 1939, passed away on May 25, 2026, at the age of 86. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to a family of quirky, fun-loving, and thoughtful people who all follow in her footsteps.
Carole embraced all that life had to offer and was a selfless, empathetic force in the world. From a young age she had a nurturing spirit and loved animals, especially horses. She was defined by volunteerism, from a young age donating her lemonade stand profits to charity, serving as an election official, organizing blood drives through the Red Cross, or distributing aid to her local community in Delaware County after a fire. She was always where she felt she could uplift the people she cared most about: anyone who needed help.
As a Red Cross volunteer with the Southern Tier chapter, Carole travelled the country delivering meals, transporting supplies, providing direct assistance, and giving hugs to those in crisis. She served two tours in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and despite losing her sense of smell after being exposed to the conditions, she was invigorated by the experience. She saw herself as a problem solver doing the important work of mutual aid, and earned the lifelong respect and friendship of many people along the way.
Carole was also defined by honesty and a steadfast work ethic as an entrepreneur, at a time when women rarely did such things. In the mid-70s she started her own business, Cheerful Expressions, and after moving upstate she started Craftiques, making, selling, and consigning antiques, collectibles, and handmade crafts. She stayed in business for over 50 years with a profound love of her community, and approached every business interaction with integrity. She loved to haggle but always gave a fair deal. Fascinated by the ornate, sincere, and storied objects of the past, her shops were filled with charming American folk art as well as many household objects of yesteryear. In many ways, her collection was a true reflection of her own values: sentimental vintage, patriotic nostalgia, and stuff that was just plain neat!
In life, Carole was the personification of that niche of the Silent Generation known as the Lucky Few. She was born in the Five Towns of Long Island to a Jewish family in the garment industry, raised three daughters during the baby boom, built a trailblazing small business by her own gumption, and devoted the rest of her time to the betterment of people she did not know. She was born on Labor Day and died on Memorial Day. She was the paragon of what it means to be an American.
Carole was a beacon of peace, an affirming friend, and uplifting in her way. She touched the lives of so many around her and led us all to be better people through her example. We will carry on her legacy of kindness, playfulness, and initiative, but miss hers all the while.
