Carole Ann Sunada

Carol Ann Sunada was born September 14th, 1941 in Newark, Ohio to George Marvin Freeman and Eileen Cecilia Kelly Freeman. She was the firstborn and was followed by two sisters, Sharon and then Debbie. Carol worked for the Dept. of Defense as a secretary which found her in a position in Paris, France. There she met her future husband, Leo Sunada. They maintained a friendship even though they both traveled around different locations throughout the US and Europe. They were married on July 25th,1967. With both working in the Dept of Defense, they worked in France, England, and eventually in Germany where they stayed for 23 years. Their first son Mori was born in England, and their second son Jiro was born in Germany. While Leo worked as a school administrator for the overseas school system for the Dept of Defense, Carol was secretary for the General and head of the department that welcomed all of the new military people to the base, as well as hosting all of the high up generals and others at their home on regular occasions. Due to Leo's health issues, they moved to Wenatchee in 1992, and in 1995 moved to Issaquah to be closer to Specialists for his heart condition. After a short stay in Bellevue, they returned to Wenatchee in 1996. After losing her son Jiro in April 1996 and then Leo in Dec 1996, Carol spent some time with a grief support group in Bellevue called "The Compassionate Friends". Upon returning to Wenatchee, Carol devoted her life and all of her time (a considerable amount of her own money) to starting up a Wenatchee Valley chapter of The Compassionate Friends. She ran this non-profit grief support group successfully from 2006 to 2022 until Covid and Bone cancer forced her to close it down. Carol was a long-time member of the Wenatchee Kennel Club and raised 4 AKC award-winning German Shepards (Imka, Buddy, Tara, and Jax). Carol was a tough woman with a heart of gold who weathered the storm each day with a smile on her face and reminded us that God is in control and told me that frequently. Carol was preceded in death by her husband Leo in 1996, son Jiro in 1996, son Mori in 2021, parents George and Eileen Freeman, and Father and Mother in Law Morijiro and Toku Sunada. She is survived by sisters Sharon McFarlane of Mountlake Terrace, and Debbie Winkel of Chelan. Also survived by her self-proclaimed many times "best friend, dine-out partner, and daughter she never had" Lisa Earhart. I will miss your friendship, wisdom, and stories about Europe, but I am rejoicing for your reunion in Heaven with Leo, Mori, and Jiro Written by your friend Lisa

Carole Ann Sunada

September 13, 1941 - December 24, 2023