Carol Ann Waxmundsky Szymanski
Carol Ann Waxmundsky Szymanski, 43, of Bloomsbury, N.J., passed away on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, at home from stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She fought for two long years doing many different treatments. These last couple weeks she was under the care of hospice. She passed away in the morning with her loving family at her bedside. She leaves her daughter Annabelle and husband John.
Carol was born July 15, 1976, in New Brunswick, N.J., to Stanley and Donna Sebasto Waxmundsky and lived in South Bound Brook for some years, then moved to Branchburg, N.J., in 1985. The location was in close proximity to Solberg Airport. She became fascinated with flying and frequently rode her bike to the airport. At 14 she approached the Solberg owners for a job and was hired. She used her wages for flight instructions, and got her private pilot's license at age 16.
In 1992 Carol entered a contest and became one of two first-ever winners of the Young Eagles Flight Program. The program was created by the US Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wis., to promote youth involvement in aviation. Carol wrote an essay about why she wanted to become a Youth Eagle. As a winner, Carol spent the summer at the largest airshow in the U.S., held in Oshkosh, Wis. She shared time on stage with actor Cliff Robertson and singer John Denver. She co-piloted the Budweiser blimp, and flew in everything from open cockpit planes to Learjets.
Carol graduated from Somerville High School and obtained a bachelor's degree in economics and mathematics from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. She was employed by Solberg Airport all through her educational years. Carol had a lifelong passion for aviation and was blessed by her friendship with the Solberg and Nagle families.
Carol married John Szymanski of Readington, N.J., on April 24, 2004, at Saint Bernard's Catholic Church in Bridgewater, N.J. She went on to work for Foster Wheeler in Clinton, N.J., for the last 16 years and held the position of worldwide spare parts manager for their fire heater division. She was surely loved by all she worked with. She would want to mention the overwhelming generosity she received from so many people, in so many ways, which cannot be thanked enough.
Carol is survived by her husband, John Szymanski; daughter, Annabelle; parents, Stanley and Donna Waxmundsky; sister, Sharon Mertes and her children, Mackenzie, Charlotte and Chase; and aunts and uncles, Harold and Pat Waxmundsky, Alan and Sharon Waxmundsky, along with cousins, Collen Davies, Jan Cohen and their families.
She is also survived by in-laws, John and Joan Szymanski; sister-in-law, Kathy Zepeda and children, Sophia, Andrew and Gabriella, and many other aunts, uncles and cousins on the Szymanski side as well.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., and on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. in the Finegan Funeral Home, 924 2nd Ave., Alpha, N.J. 08865. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church, 5th Ave., Alpha, N.J. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, Alpha, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Carol to a GoFundMe breast cancer patient.