Carol C. Tantillo

Carol Cynthia Adler Tantillo went home to God in the early morning of Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. She was peaceful and sure of where she was going and wished the same for all who loved her.

Carol was born to Mabel Gill Adler and Harolod C. Adler on March 1, 1937 in New York City. She grew up in Elmhurst, Queens and met a dashing young man named Chuck Tantillo at Newtown High School. They graduated together in 1954 and married on Aug. 26, 1955 in Yonkers, NY. They had five children, one of whom, Craig Allen, preceded them in death as an infant.

After living several years in Tulsa, OK and Lafayette, LA, Carol and Chuck moved to Topeka in 1962 where he founded an insurance agency. Carol was able to follow her highest calling and desire, which was to build a strong family. Chuck would often say, "I make the living, she makes the living worthwhile!"

A strong woman of Christian faith, Carol strove to live it out in every situation. She was consistently kind and generous to every individual she met, seeing the goodness of God in all. She led many Bible studies through the years, and was a graduate of the 4 year Menninger Bible Course. She was a volunteer with the Big Brother Big Sister Reading program in the last several years of her life, and a regular supporter of many charities.

In addition to raising a family, Carol loved to travel and saw most of the world in her lifetime. After Chuck passed away in 1998 she continued to travel with friends and invited her children and their families on many wonderful trips. She was a season ticket holder with Topeka Civic Theatre and the Topeka Jazz Concert Series for many years, and served on the board of the Topeka Festival Singers. She was an avid reader and crossword puzzler as well as a crackerjack Scrabble player. In the last several years she enjoyed spending weekends at Lake Perry on her houseboat, Grazie, where her children also keep their boats. Gathering with family was always her favorite activity.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Robert Tantillo, on April 10, 1998, and their son, Craig Allen on December 4, 1967. She is survived by her children, Cindy Schendel (Rob), Charlie Tantillo (Esther), Chris Tantillo and Curt Tantillo; 8 grandchildren, Becca Schendel Norris (Ben), Drew Schendel (April), Ryan DelCotto (Christina), Joe Schendel, Taylor Tantillo, Chaz Tantillo, Matt Tantillo and Addison Tantillo; and 4 great-grandchildren, Mila Schendel, Robbie Schendel, Sidney Norris and Frankie Norris. She is also survived by 2 sisters, Val Kelly and Mitzi Belsky.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel. Memorial service followed by Celebration lunch will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at the Dillon House, 404 SW 9th Street, Topeka, KS. Private family inurnment will be held.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Tantillo Family Foundation, 11654 Grant Dr.,Overland Park, KS 66210, or Grace Hospice, 3715 SW 29th St., Topeka, KS 66614.

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