Formerly of Flushing, age 86, died Thursday, October 24, 2013 at her home in Chelsea, MI. Caroline was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1927 in Flint, MI, daughter of David and Marguerite (Landis) Middleton.
Her parents raised Caroline and her younger brother David in a loving home in Flint’s Civic Park neighborhood. She graduated from Flint Northern High School before earning a BA in Spanish at Marygrove College and an MA in Education at the University of Michigan. In forty-three years teaching in Flint Community Schools, mainly in elementary education, Caroline left a great legacy in the lives of her students.
She met the love of her life, Guillermo Barillas of Guatemala City, Guatemala, at a college dance in Detroit. Their courtship included a romantic year in his country, a time of dances, drives in the mountains, and socializing with his family and friends. They married in 1956 and lived first in Guatemala and then Flint before moving to Flushing, where they raised six children, three boys and three girls, providing them with unconditional love and strong values of compassion, integrity, and striving.
Caroline was a pretty, charming lady who loved to meet people, always telling them about her children, of whom she was very proud. She loved dancing, listening to Latin music, and attending the symphony. She was a good swimmer, a voracious reader, and a fluent speaker of Spanish. Traveling brought her great happiness, including trips with her husband to Spain, Italy, Ireland, Argentina, Peru, Australia, and other countries. Of her many qualities, what most struck people were her sweetness, humor, intelligence, courage, belief in social justice, and heartfelt Catholic faith.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Guillermo Barillas, her daughter Maria Teresa Barillas-Hinds, her brother Dr. David Middleton, her foreign exchange student daughter Roberta Duarte Neves, her special cousin Claire Curran, and earlier by her parents. Carrying on with her love in their hearts are: her surviving children, Martin (wife Alice) of Flushing, Carolina of Manchester, MI, Elena (husband David) also of Manchester, William (wife María) of La Crosse, WI, and Michael of Orlando, FL; her grandchildren Taylor, Bettina, Mariana, Guillermo, Maya, and Daniel; foreign exchange student sons Luis and Antonio Gonzalez de Canales; and friends around the world. We love you Mom.
The Funeral Mass was celebrated Friday, October 25, 11:30 am at St. Mary Catholic Church, Chelsea, Michigan, with Fr. Tim Nelson officiating. Burial followed at New Calvary, Flint, Michigan. The family received friends Friday from 10:00 - 11:30am at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, PO Box 304, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0304, (888) 627-9566, www.maryknollsociety.org. Arrangements were entrusted to Cole Funeral Chapel in Chelsea, MI.
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