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Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Title Track

A vibrant new Traverse City-based non-profit whose mission is to engage creative practice to build resilient social-ecological systems that support clean water, racial equity, and youth empowerment. Donations can be made at: https://titletrackmichigan.org/support/

Web Site

Munson Healthcare Foundation; Munson Hospice
1150 Medical Campus Dr.
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 935-6482

A beautiful eight-bedroom home nestled in a quiet, wooded area near Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. The house is designed to meet the needs of patients, with the intention of keeping family members connected to one another physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Donations provide much needed end-of-life care to patients who cannot pay for their care. If you would like to give a gift to Munson Hospice, please contact the Munson Healthcare Foundations at 231-935-6482.

Web Site

Company Dance Traverse

The performance company of Dance Arts Academy where the “Carole Simon Memorial Scholarship” will support young artists pursuing dance education as well as professional dance performance on a local scale. Donations can be mailed or delivered to: Dance Arts Academy 1015 S. Garfield Ave. Traverse City, MI 49686.“Carole Simon Memorial Scholarship”

Dance Arts Academy
1015 S. Garfield Ave.
Traverse City, MI 49686

Life Story / Obituary


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Carole Jean Simon

6/4/1952 - 10/6/2019

In the presence of close friends and family, Carole Jean Simon of Traverse City, MI transitioned to ancestorhood on October 6th, 2019 at 6:20am at the age of 67. Both daughters, Elizabeth (Lillie) Jean Wolff and Sarah Simon Wolff were beside her at Munson Hospice House as she departed this plane. In her words, she had to “drop the body” after gracefully facing the course of a rare and incurable cancer. She was surrounded by family and friends throughout her final weeks, including her older siblings, Stephen Simon and Sharon Frank, and her dear friend and former husband Glenn Wolff.

Carole approached her final years on her own terms, with style, wisdom, and humor, similar to how she related to challenges and blessings alike throughout her life. She was illuminated by her quintessential warm energy and spirited personality right up to her final moments. Reflecting on her wisdom and perspective, longtime family friend Dr. Terrie Taylor remarked, “this is her finest act yet.” Friend and Mayor of Traverse City Jim Carruthers mentioned recently in passing that he was still receiving impassioned letters communicating her proposed civic improvements. Her zest for upholding sound ethics and community justice never waned. She was a loving and devoted mother and mentor to Elizabeth and Sarah, who feel she imparted wisdom beyond measure as she guided them along their respective life journeys. Both daughters identify with Carole’s passions, personally and vocationally. They are embracing a connected afterglow of her loving presence.

Carole was born in Minnesota on June 4th, 1952, to Florence Dansky and Melvin Simon. In her late teens, she became enthralled in studying music and dance. She exhibited remarkable talent for both and was encouraged by her music teachers to continue pursuing singing and playing piano. She danced with the Nancy Hauser Dance Company where she explored modern dance choreography, and also studied at the University of Minnesota.

In 1978 she met Glenn soon after he graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. They moved to New York City in 1979 where Elizabeth was born, and in 1987 they relocated to Traverse City where Sarah was born. Shortly thereafter Carole pursued a real estate license and cultivated a well-respected business in realty through Coldwell Banker and Real Estate One. She was known for her ethical business practices, impeccable attention to detail, and passionate love of houses throughout her three decade long career.

In 2013, Carole took up social dancing, reigniting her passion and love for dance. She was stunning to watch with her innate coordination, musicality, charisma, and deep understanding of movement style. In addition to her talent for piano and dance, Carole was a gifted wordsmith and poet. Her family plans to publish a chapbook of her poems in the coming year.

Carole was an active and proud member of Temple Beth Shalom, where she found cultural connection and supportive community within the small but vibrant local Jewish population.

Carole was known for her wisdom and big picture understanding of what’s important in life. She would often write down her poignant insights. "If you define yourself by your money, your spouse or partner, your house, your job, your title, or your looks, you are in trouble because all those things can or will go away. If you define yourself by the love in your heart, your compassion for others and yourself, your service to others, your joy in simple things, and your good sense of humor when facing adversity, then you are a champion and will survive it all," she wrote.

When asked about the dying process she remarked to her family, “We are all electrical energy, which, when we die, and in this case the dying person is me, the electrical energy continues. We don’t know exactly where it goes, but it coagulates somehow into a magnetic field, like the movements of a really good modern dancer who’s totally grounded and connected with the floor. We are all just iterations of stardust, here for a moment and then back again to where it all began. A completion of the loop.”

Carole Jean will surely be missed. Her warm spirit and deep wisdom live on in those whose lives she touched. Her family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the nurses and staff at Munson Home Hospice and the Hospice House who helped care for her with the utmost respect and presence; as well as her dear friends Carol Miller and Nancy Gallagher who were loving and devoted members of her caretaking team through her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends memorial contributions to one of the following organizations selected by Carole.

Title Track -- A vibrant new Traverse City-based non-profit whose mission is to engage creative practice to build resilient social-ecological systems that support clean water, racial equity, and youth empowerment. Donations can be made at: https://titletrackmichigan.org/support/

Munson Hospice House -- A beautiful eight-bedroom home nestled in a quiet, wooded area near Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. The house is designed to meet the needs of patients, with the intention of keeping family members connected to one another physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Donations provide much needed end-of-life care to patients who cannot pay for their care. If you would like to give a gift to Munson Hospice, please contact the Munson Healthcare Foundations at 231-935-6482.

Company Dance Traverse -- The performance company of Dance Arts Academy where the “Carole Simon Memorial Scholarship” will support young artists pursuing dance education as well as professional dance performance on a local scale. Donations can be mailed or delivered to: Dance Arts Academy 1015 S. Garfield Ave. Traverse City, MI 49686.

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