Carolyn R Stoia

Carolyn Raney Stoia, beloved wife, sister, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2024, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. With her passing, we lost a fountain of energy, humor, and love. She was 73.

Her parents, Col. Thompson Raney, and Marianne (nee Hofmeister) Raney preceded her in death. Born June 14, 1950, in Fort Meade, Maryland at Fort George G. Meade Hospital, Carolyn spent her formative years as an Army Brat, residing in Germany, The Netherlands, Texas, Kansas, and Pennsylvania, upon graduating early from Killeen High School, in Texas, she moved to Florida at age 17 to attend the University of Florida. A sixth-generation Floridian, Carolyn eventually settled in Lakeland, Florida, where she met the love of her life, husband Patrick George Stoia, who survives her along with her two sisters, Nancy Susan Raney and Linda Raney Tanner, four children, daughter Allison Raney McCarthy, sons James Brendan McCarthy (Marjorie), Matthew Patrick Stoia and Daniel Thompson Stoia, and six grandchildren, Avery Carolyn Cruse, Stella Ruby Cruse, James Callan McCarthy, Cecelia Brands McCarthy, Eisley Mae Stoia and Margot Elise Stoia.

She earned her Bachelor of Education in 1972 and Master of Social Work in 1983, both from the University of South Florida in Tampa. Fiercely devoted to helping those in need, she spent her early career working as a child abuse investigator and an adoptions supervisor with the former Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services with the State of Florida. She became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializing in addictions therapy and mental health counseling, working at Tri-County Addictions and at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was an adjunct professor at Florida Southern College in the late 1980's, teaching sociology and social work courses. She was active in the Junior League of Greater Lakeland and the daughters of the American Revolution.

Carolyn will be remembered for her charisma, her keen sense of style, her free-wheeling sense of humor, her contagious laugh and ability to lighten up any room she entered. She had a deep passion for riding Palomino horses, playing card games, reading hundreds of books, helping the disadvantaged, and enjoying the Motown and rock n’ roll she was reared on in the 1960’s. She earned her teaching certificate from Satya Life Yoga in 2014 and continued her practice as long as her body and mind would allow.

A private service will be held soon for immediate family. Details regarding a celebration of her life will be shared at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Carolyn’s name payable to “USF Foundation, Inc” and mailed to USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Center and Research Institute, Attn: Dan Minor,4202 Fowler Ave., ALC 100, Tampa, FL 33620.