V. Carol Rice

Born on Christmas Day in 1925, Virginia Carol Mausolf, daughter of Joseph & Eva Mausolf of Alpena, lived a little over 100 years until her life ended peacefully at her home on Poor Farm Road in Harrisville, MI on May 18, 2026. Affectionately known as Christmas Carol, she preferred using her middle name. Siblings Rosalie, Mary (stillborn), Joseph, Kenneth and Darwin have all passed now, leaving Diane (Mausolf) Laseck of Lachine her only living sibling. Carol was almost 14 when Diane was born, and often recalled helping her Mom to care for her new baby sister, who sometimes took care of Carol in later years in the circle of life.

Carol spent her childhood enjoying winter activities in Alpena, especially ice skating and cooking potatoes on the bonfires they made on the lake to keep warm. She graduated from Alpena High School in 1944 and then attended County Normal College and taught school in a one-room schoolhouse for a while. She met and married Frank Rice from Harrisville, whose family had a dairy farm, in 1945 and their marriage lasted 72 years, until Frank passed in 2018. Frank was drafted into the Army towards the end of World War II, but his stint in the service was cut short after Carol had severe complications during childbirth with their firstborn daughter Karen. After their second child was born, a son named Mark, they moved to Archdale in northwest Detroit in 1949 when Frank got a Civil Service job working at DSR as a diesel mechanic repairing city buses. They had two more children, Rosalie Sue (RoSue) and Craig. Carol was a patient, kind, and nurturing stay-at-home Mom until the early ’60’s when she entered the work force once again, walking a mile to work at TRW Credit Data. During these years she suffered with arthritis and spinal issues which worsened until she eventually was forced into an early retirement with a medical disability. After 38 years in Detroit, Carol and Frank moved back to their 40-acre farm in Harrisville in 1987 to enjoy their retirement on Poor Farm Road, enjoying their animals, their vegetable garden, canning and freezing fruits and vegetables, and making maple syrup.Carol loved to socialize and joined many clubs and organizations over the years, starting with her monthly “Birthday Club” with her neighbors on Archdale; Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, where she was a great leader who organized the best crafts and activities; and Altar Society at IHM Catholic Church in Detroit. After retiring, she became very involved in St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Harrisville, in Altar Society, on the Funeral Committee, collecting clothes and supplies for unwed mothers; and she was known as the Card Lady, always sending cards to everyone for everything. She never missed a family member or friend’s birthday or special occasion. In addition, Carol loved to write poetry and was often asked to write a special poem for someone, which she would have framed for them. She was also very active in the D.C.C.W. and nations wide university-based Co-op Extension Group, which provides knowledge to improve agriculture, nutrition, health and youth development.Carol’s love for humanity and animals shone through in her caring and giving ways, and she treated everyone like family, especially empathizing with the underdog. She was always cooking and urging people to eat, feeding every person in the neighborhood at one time or another. Family and friends alike were blessed by her lovingkindness all her life.

Carol is survived by her four children and their spouses: Karen Lee (& Harry) Porter of Fenton, MI, Mark Alan (& Meg) Rice of Greenbush, MI, RoSue (& Dave) Gordon of Sterling Heights, MI, and Craig Rice of Harrisville, MI; 12 Grandchildren and their spouses; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and sister Diane Laseck of Lachine, MI.

Carol Rice is at Gillies Funeral Home in Lincoln, MI where family and friends may visit on Friday, May 29, 2026 between 6 - 8 p.m. Visitation will continue at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Harrisville, MI on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 10 a.m. until the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Fr. Boks will officiate. Memorial Donations are suggested to the Alcona Humane Society, Hospice of Michigan, or St. Jude, a charity close to Carol’s heart.