Carole Anne Arsenault

Carole Anne Arsenault, 65, of Woodbridge, Virginia passed away on March 7, 2023 from complications related to cancer discovered in November of 2021. She and her husband Richard had been residing temporarily in Fayetteville, NC where they could be closer to family and to Duke Cancer Center. She passed with her husband and children by her bedside but not before being able to say goodbye, in her own kind and gentle way, to her grandchildren and mother one week earlier. Carole was one of three children born to Robert and Rose Cartner of Fayetteville, NC.

Carole was a thoughtful, kind, and compassionate lady loved by all who knew her. Like her father, she loved working in her yard tending to her many flowers and especially enjoyed a small, fresh bouquet of carnations on the breakfast table. Until very recently she also enjoyed dancing with her husband and many friends who would often insist she also join them in singing karaoke, which she often did, in a barely perceptible voice or by simply mouthing the words, but with great fanfare while grinning from ear to ear loving every minute of it knowing she was fooling no one.

On any nice warm day, it would not be uncommon to find her on the back of “her” Harley. She enjoyed both short and long motorcycle rides, but especially those in the mountains. It would not be uncommon for her and Richard to chart 2,000 mile trips and they enjoyed one 7,800 mile trip, traversing the United States riding 300-500 miles per day, rain or shine, and have also been known to grab a quick lunch 100 miles away.

Her greatest joy in life came from spending time with her children and grandchildren whom she cherished and was known to them as “mémère”. When her children called needing help with the babies, she would pack a bag and travel 200 or more miles, day or night, and at least once through an unexpected snowstorm. if caregiving were a superpower, she had it. She tried her absolute best to deny her kids nothing during her lifetime. 

With her father in the Air Force, Carole traveled the world while growing up and graduated high school at Clark AFB, Philippines. From there, she joined the Air Force in 1975 and was eventually assigned to Pope AFB in 1976 working as an admin for the Combat Control team whose members she loved as her brothers. Pope AFB was also where she would meet her future husband, at a dance at the Pope NCO club, that neither of them wanted to attend that particular Saturday night in 1978. They were married at Pope AFB on June 30, 1979.  

Carole is survived by her husband Richard and their children and families: Jennifer Alexander (Arsenault) and her husband Patrick of Durham NC; Jason Arsenault and his wife Lisa of Marietta GA; her four grandchildren Kethry, Cody, Eliana and Elijah; her mother Rose; sisters Theresa, Donna and their families; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father Robert who passed away on October 6, 2022.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in her name online at http://www.t2t.org/, or by mail to 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.    

A graveside Catholic service will be conducted at Quantico National Cemetery on Friday March 24, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. where she will be buried with military honors.

Online condolences may be left at http://www.jerniganwarren.com

Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, NC 28301

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