Mar 24, 2018

Carolyn Louise Welsh Crosby passed away peacefully Friday, March 9, 2018, in her Sebastopol, Calif., home, following a seven-year battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her family.

She was born September 6, 1940. She was raised in Washington, the fourth eldest child of Laurence and Elizabeth Welsh’s eight children.

Mrs. Crosby was a 1958 graduate of Immaculate Conception High School. She enjoyed a successful career as a flight attendant for Eastern and Trans World Airlines. She loved traveling the world and had many great stories to tell.

In 1968, she married the late Robert Pope, a San Francisco, Calif., native. They raised three children and, after divorcing in 1988, she pursued what would become a 20-year career as an esthetician. This suited her well, as her kind, generous and caring nature knew no bounds, and many of her loyal clients became dear friends.

In 2004, she fell in love with the late Donald Crosby of San Francisco, and they married in September 2005 after a whirlwind courtship. Mrs. Crosby’s family grew to include two stepchildren and five grandchildren, Jessica, 24, Daniel, 21, Diana, 19, Diego, 11, and Mateo, 9, who brought her endless joy.

Mr. and Mrs. Crosby retired in Sabastopol on a farm they built together, where they raised chickens and grew organic vegetables and apple trees.

She had a knack for making everything she touched warm and beautiful through her gardening, cooking and baking. She loved to arrange flowers and always had them displayed throughout her home. She was a fierce game player, mostly card games and dominoes. She also loved movies and had a wonderful sense of humor, often demonstrated by her boisterous laugh.

Surviving are her children, Christopher Pope, Matthew Pope and Gabrielle Pope Gardner (Randy); stepchildren Doug Crosby and Julia Crosby Vazquez (Javier); five grandchildren; siblings Pat Worthington, Nancy Mateja, Judith Miller (Steve), Marylee Johnson (Randle), Michael Welsh and Linda Jones; stepsister Tessamarie Capitolo (Dave); and many nieces and nephews.

Deceased are her husband, Don; parents Larry and Betty; stepmother Doris Welsh; brother Larry Welsh II; brothers-in-law Bill Worthington, Jim Jones and Mike Mateja; nephew Bart Luchock; and her first husband, Robert Pope.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 21, in Corte Madera Community Center, 498 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera, CA 94925.

Donations made in Mrs. Crosby’s name to Ceres Project, www.ceresproject.com, are greatly appreciated.