Mrs. Carolyn June Tassey
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Carolyn's obituary
Carolyn June Tassey
May 6, 1950 – May 1, 2025
With hearts full of love and gratitude, we celebrate the beautiful life of Carolyn June Tassey, who passed away peacefully at her home in Arroyo Grande on May 1, 2025, just days before her 75th birthday. Surrounded by her devoted family, Carolyn left this world just as she lived in it—with grace, warmth, and love.
Carolyn June Tassey’s story began on a spring day in Merced, California—May 6, 1950—when she was born to Anthony and Delores (Sequeira) Rose. The world she entered was simple and small, but her heart was big, and from the start, she carried within her a love for stories, learning, and people. She grew up surrounded by books and kindness. As a young girl, she discovered how stories could transport her to other worlds—and before long, she realized she didn’t just want to read them. She wanted to share them. That desire would shape the course of her life.
After graduating from Merced High School in 1968, Carolyn attended Merced College, then California State University, Fresno, earning her Bachelor of Arts and her teaching credential. Later, she would go on to earn an additional credential as a Library Media Teacher. She wasn’t in it for titles or accolades. She simply wanted to make a difference, and she did—every day, in quiet and extraordinary ways.
Carolyn met her future husband, Jeff, at Riggs Medical Supply & Ambulance Service back in high school. She never looked for anyone else. They didn’t need to. From that moment forward, it was always the two of them. They married on June 24, 1972, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Merced, and for the next 60 years, they wrote a life together filled with love, laughter, hard work, and a shared sense of purpose.
As a teacher, Carolyn had a magic all her own. She started her career at Planada Elementary, Chowchilla Elementary, and spent many years at Chenoweth Elementary School in Merced. She also taught part-time at Merced College. Her classrooms weren’t just places to learn—they were places to be seen, supported, and loved. Students still remember her showing up dressed in costume, ready to act out the very stories that first captured her heart. She had a way of making the ordinary feel special and the smallest child feel like the most important person in the room. Her classroom was a place of wonder, encouragement, and joy—where creativity and kindness filled every corner.
Outside the classroom, Carolyn poured her heart into her family. She was a devoted wife, a nurturing mother, and a proud Grammie. Her joy multiplied in the presence of her grandchildren, and she gave them the gift of her time, stories, and unconditional love. She found joy in life’s simple pleasures—books, movies, good conversation, and shared laughter.
Carolyn was also a passionate member of P.E.O. in both Merced and Arroyo Grande. She served as Vice President and President, uplifting women through education and friendship. Her chosen 2025 theme, “Sisters of the Heart,” reflected her deep belief in community, service, and love.
She leaves behind the love of her life, Jeffrey Tassey; her daughter, Allison Wentzel (Shawn); her son, Bryan Tassey (Erin); and her grandchildren, Garrett Wentzel (Danica), Landen Wentzel, Covin Tassey, and Jenna Tassey. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister.
We will honor Carolyn’s life on May 21, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Merced. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., the Rosary at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. A private family burial will take place at Evergreen Funeral Home and Memorial Park. Friends and family are warmly invited to a luncheon at the Merced Elks Lodge #1240, where we will share stories, laughter, and love in memory of Carolyn.
Her story may have come to a close, but the chapters she wrote in our lives will never fade. Carolyn June Tassey lived with heart, taught with purpose, and loved with everything she had. And that is how she will be remembered as a friend, wife, teacher, mother, grammie, and great grammie-to-be.
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