Caroline Anna Hummel
April 4, 1926 - November 24, 2022
Obituary
Our Mom, Caroline Anna Hummel (Richter), was born in Judson, North Dakota on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926 to parents Carl and Martha Hoger. She grew up happily on the family farm with older brother Carl Jr. and her younger sister Clara (Schaner). When she was older and living independently in Bismarck, much loved younger brother Dennis joined the family. At the age of 96, she went to be with her Savior, parents, siblings, and husbands in heaven on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2022. Mom’s sister Clara passed away just thirteen days before Mom.
Mom met our Dad, Adolph Richter, at an American Legion convention and they were married on December 27, 1946. They had children Diane and Larry while living in North Dakota and daughter Arlys after moving to Washington. Life was busy for Mom taking care of three children and our dad while working full time for Lockheed, but she was full of life and loved her family dearly.
After Dad passed away too soon at age 56, Caroline found love again with John Hummel and they were married on November 21, 1975. During their 21 years of marriage, they built two houses and traveled the world. Once they retired in Bellingham, they embarked on a six month round the world trip creating many treasured memories for them. Sadly, John passed away in 1997.
In 1998 Mom moved from Arlington to Puyallup to be close to family. She enjoyed her church and craft club and made many friends in her Azalea Gardens retirement community before moving to Silver Creek Assisted Living. She always said she could not just sit and watch TV and had to be doing something, so over the years many friends and everyone in the family received one, if not more, of her knitted afghans and her knitted dish cloths. She loved our big family gatherings and the noisy chaos of little ones running around and giving her spontaneous hugs and kisses. They are all missing Grandma Caroline.
We are thankful for the loving care provided to Mom by her caregivers at Amani Hill Adult Care Home. It was a truly a blessing during the pandemic and beyond and Mom was content.
During her lifetime, Caroline was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was quick with a smile and always supportive. She was dearly loved and will be deeply missed. We appreciate that we were able to have her with us for over 96 years. We were blessed.
Caroline is survived by her children, Diane Delos Reyes (Walter) of Lahaina, Hawaii, Larry Richter (Linda) of Oracle, Arizona, and Arlys Reynolds (Steve) of Puyallup, Washington; stepson Greg Hummel (Donna Vee) of Checotah, Oklahoma; grandchildren Colin Delos Reyes (Vivian), Wendy Wilhelm (Scott), Jeremy Delos Reyes (Gracie), Jill Brown (Charlie), Matt Richter, Tracy Johnson (Jesse), and Ryan Reynolds (Carla Joy); Great-grandchildren Levi Delos Reyes, Dakota Delos Reyes, Jai Wilhelm, Kyler Wilhelm, Ethan Tracy, Caleb Wohlmacher, Alaina Johnson, Annaka (named after Mom’s middle name Anna) Johnson, Sienna Johnson, Jay Johnson, Tate Johnson, Titus Reynolds, Jonathan Reynolds, and Mom’s namesake, baby Caroline Reynolds.
An informal celebration of Mom’s life will be held on Saturday, January 14th. If you would like to attend, please email Arlys at arlysreynolds@gmail.com for details.
