Carol Anne Milanich

Carol Anne Milanich passed away August 29, 2021 due to Acute Leukemia at the age of 84. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert L. Milanich, who passed much too early in 1966. Finding love again late in life, she shared the last two decades with Robert (Bob) Davenport as her life partner.

She was rarely still, always moving and doing. A consummate friend and companion to those in her life, always a gracious and giving host to family and friends and a caretaker to those who needed care. She chose education as her profession, paving her own way and building her own foundation, working as a Mother's Helper while obtaining her degree, wanting at first to teach those most vulnerable with special needs and then moving on to the field of educational psychology. She was always seeking to learn, spending almost three decades focusing her efforts in education and fighting to lift up and serve those who could not help themselves, yet still finding time for playing a lot of Bridge along the way, not to mention raising two children. She encouraged her children in arts, music, and education, inspiring them to never stop learning, but most importantly in finding a unique path in life. In retirement, moving from Morton Grove, Illinois to Madison, Wisconsin, she continued to find ways to be of service to her community, becoming an active member of Grace Episcopal and volunteering time in the food pantry. Madison was, of course, where she also met Bob and finally found her dancing partner. This was a time in her life that she often remarked how "wonderful" things were for her!

She is survived by her two children, her daughter, Kira, and her son, Mark, and her grandson, Eli, all of whom are beyond grateful for the love, guidance, support and encouragement she gave to each of them throughout their lives and in their varied pursuits in life. Accepting and supportive of each's unique path, providing a shared joy in successes and, in less successful endeavors, a comforting safe haven and gentle encouragement. She is also survived by her extended family and friends, including daughter-in-law Kate Behrens; her son, Mark's, partner Renee Tibbetts; grandchildren: Jason Wick, Suede Davenport, Daniel Wick, Christian Sis, Alysha Peterson; great-grandchildren: Colton Wick, Ivy Wick, Cecilia Sis, Maia Wick, and Mila Peterson.

If anything could be said to be true, it would be that she's done well in life, that what she gave those in her life through example, words, and deeds, was so much more than enough and that she can rest well knowing that she has sown well the seeds of love and acceptance. Saying she has done "well" is not grandiose enough to convey what she has done with her life. What is perhaps more adequate is to say that she has truly lived life, experiencing both the lowest lows and the highest highs of life's offerings, and sprinkled that life with enough of her own special seasoning to have memories that can never be forgotten, friends, loves, travels and learning, biking and walking life's journeys in so many localities throughout the world. She traveled the deserts of New Mexico, the shores of both the Atlantic and Pacific, China's treasures and Italy's seacoast, Panama's jungles (on a zipline!) and Wisconsin's forests, Wyoming's mountains and Chicago's skyscrapers, cable cars in San Francisco and biking along the Rhine River; and so much more. Her last trip, just before the pandemic shut down travel, was to Galapagos, where she marveled in her element amongst truly unique natural forms of life.

It was in her adventures, stories, pictures and her smile we could see her joyfulness, but it was in her eyes and her heart that we could see her love and her depth; the love that bore us through difficulty and the depth that gave us courage and hope for what lies ahead, and it is that love, courage, and hope that we will carry forward, and maybe a sense of adventure and wonder too, knowing that we too can find that "Wonderful" in life that she so treasured.

Informed Choice Funeral
& Cremation Alternatives
3325 E. Washington Ave. Madison
(608) 249-6758