Carolyn Braas Obituary

Carolyn enjoyed knitting, cooking and baking, and maintaining her beautiful rose garden.
a MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: tUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025 AT 11:00 AM FROM HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH. VISITATION TO BEGIN AT 10:00 AM.
BURIAL WILL FOLLOW IN HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CEMETERY.
Carolyn R. Braas, 92 of Columbia passed away on June 25, 2025. She was born in Columbia to the late Aloysius, Sr. and Caroline Smith Droege and was a lifelong resident of this area.
Carolyn was a graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School with the Class of 1951 and worked as a secretary with ITT Grinnell, Wrightsville Valve, Schick, LGH, and the former Columbia Hospital before her retirement in 2003. She loved playing the piano and was a gifted seamstress who made many clothes for herself and her children. Carolyn enjoyed knitting, cooking and baking, and maintaining her beautiful rose garden. She also loved traveling to Philadelphia, Texas, and Florida to visit family and especially visiting the beaches of Wildwood and Cape May, NJ. Carolyn was a lifelong and faithful parishioner of Holy Trinity Catholic Church where she held various positions in the Altar Rosary Society and as a volunteer with the annual fasnachts fundraiser among many other Holy Trinity functions. She was also active in the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. Carolyn was proud of her awards including Mother of the Year at Sacred Heart School, Volunteer for Cystic Fibrosis pin for fifteen plus years of service, and Majority Inspector for Board of Elections, 4th Ward for over twenty years – an elected position. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt who adored her family and treasured spending time with them.
Carolyn leaves behind five children, William C., III, husband of Mary Kay Braas of Mansfield, TX, Mary Ann Gordon of Columbia, Caroline R. Braas, companion of Ray Pineiro of Philadelphia, Joseph M. Braas of Columbia, Stephen M., husband of Joey L. Braas of Columbia; six grandchildren, Lisa (Rosa), Michael, Courtney, Stephen, Jr. (Kiara), Austin, and Meghan; three great grandsons, Andrew, Carter, and Cameron; a brother, Thomas Droege of Lancaster; her brother-in-law Thomas, husband of Bonnie Lee Braas of Lancaster; numerous nieces and nephews and a large extended family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of forty-two years, William C. Braas, Jr. in 1999 and two brothers, Aloysius W. Droege, Jr. and Leonard Droege.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 409 Cherry St, Columbia, PA 17512. Father Mark Wilke will officiate. The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will follow and she will be laid to rest with her late husband at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery. Carolyn's family would like to thank the staff of Abbeyville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their loving care for the past three years and Sr. Anna Cosgrave for her weekly visits and sharing communion. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Our Lady of the Angels School, 404 Cherry St, Columbia, PA 17512 or an animal rescue organization of one's choice.