Carol Anne Budzinski
Obituary
Carol Anne (Kinkel) Budzinski, of West Chester, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2026 surrounded by the love of her family.
Carol was born in December 1944, the eldest daughter of the late Francis and Dolores Kinkel. She grew up with her three sisters in St. Ann, MO and married her high school sweetheart, John Charles ("Jack") Budzinski. Together, they raised four children, with Carol's creativity, humor, practical advice, and loving spirit leading them. She was active in her children’s lives, from volunteering as the costume mistress for a local ballet company, to painting a 100-foot whale in a school parking lot, decorating a gingerbread house with a classroom full of third graders, and cheering at their sporting events.
Carol was passionate about her calling to be a pediatric nurse. She adored babies and children and, for 30 years, touched the lives of hundreds of children and their families with her devoted care. When she retired, she cared for her mother and remained active in the community, volunteering to work with children and helping to raise money for various charitable causes.
The quintessential hostess, Carol hosted legendary parties for family and friends. She hosted an annual egg hunt with her treasured friend, Susan Woods, complete with a costumed bunny (a costume she made), to the surprise and delight of every child guest. Her birthday and holiday celebrations were curated by her unique eye, bringing everything together to create magical memories (and a vast collection of Santas). A true girls' girl, Carol reveled in the company of her sisters and the chosen sisterhoods she created with other women, maintaining life-long friendships that she treasured, and teaching her daughters to do the same.
Carol led her life with a can-do attitude. As a teenager, she decided her parents needed a patio so she built it herself. Later in her life, she bought a run-down historic property with broken windows and a sinking floor because she had a vision for it. She renovated it to perfection, resulting in a warm and inviting family home she was proud of and that everyone wanted to visit. She enjoyed exploring the world with Jack, and she brought her open mindedness, friendliness, and joie de vivre to each new trip they took.
Carol will forever be missed by her husband Jack; her children Jill Frankel (Michael), David (Kiki), Brian Mallon (Marie), and Carrie Isaac (Sam); her 10 grandchildren Ghia, Storey, Jack, Tobey, Alex, Brandon, Sara, Samantha, Jason, and Damian; her sisters Judy Bell (Bob), Susan Camenker (Brian), and Barbara Heninger (Jay); and innumerable dear friends. She is joyfully reunited with Charlie, her little boy in a dog suit.
A private celebration of life will be held to honor her. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Carol's honor to Drexel Neumann Academy or to St. Agnes Parish.
Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. West Chester, 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com.
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