Carole Green, 90, wife of the Rev. Dr. Robert Green, died January 14, 2025, In Santa Rosa CA. She was born December 2, 1934 in Chicago to Jalmar and Anna Perttula. Her two sisters, Viola and Marie, were 15 and 16 years older, “bonus mothers” to Carole. She grew up in Redwood City CA, and graduated from Sequoia High School. She attended Santa Rosa Junior College then San Francisco State University, where she earned a B.A. and a teaching credential.
Carole used to joke that if a car came by and the passenger door was open, she would hop in. She almost wasn’t kidding. When she lived in Portland OR, she overheard a recently widowed woman at the UU Fellowship express anxiety about taking a cross-country road trip alone. Without hesitation, Carole, then in her 70s, offered to join her and even volunteered to drive her car. Although Carole had never met the woman before, off they went. Carole made friends easily, and they stopped to visit several along the way. Her love of “going on an adventure” never faded, though more recently, her road trips were mainly limited to cruising around beautiful Sonoma County with her daughter at the wheel.
While living in San Francisco Carole met her husband, Robert, after accidentally driving the wrong way down a one-way street. They lived in many places, including San Diego, Ohio, Japan, Massachusetts, Vermont, Georgia, and Michigan. In 1973, they settled in Stockton CA, where they raised their “triple-trouble trio” Christopher, Kimberley, and Channing. Carole taught mostly second grade until her retirement in 1996.
After Robert passed away in 2003, Carole relocated to Portland OR, to be near daughter Kimberley and family. Later, they spent two years in Clovis NM, before returning to Santa Rosa in 2011.
Carole passed away peacefully, at home with Kimberley and wonderful caregiver Pau Dianimoto by her side. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Reverend Dr. Robert Edward Green; sons Christopher and Channing Green; and sisters Marie Francescutti and Viola Andreini. Carole is survived by daughter Kimberley (Chris) Gibson, and two grandchildren.
A gathering in her honor was held in Santa Rosa on February 22, 2025. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton CA.