Ashley Carpenter
May 28, 2010
Ashley Carpenter, 20 of Des Moines died May 28, 2010 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center after a four year courageous battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 AM Thursday, June 3, 2010 at St Anthony’s Catholic Church with burial following at Holy Cross Cemetery near Farrar. A visitation will be from 4-8 PM Wednesday night with a 7 PM Vigil at the church.
Ashley was born in Des Moines in 1989 to Bobbie and Joe Carpenter. She loved kids and enjoyed working at the Latch Key Program at St. Anthony’s. During her cancer treatment she graduated with honors & received the Aquinas Key from Dowling High School in 2008, she took post study courses and made the Deans List at DMACC. She will be remembered as an inspiration to all and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Along with her parents, she is survived by a brother, Joseph; grandparents, Lyle and Jeanne Carpenter, John and Frances Crivaro; many aunts, uncles, cousins and her dog, Brady.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony’s Parish Foundation or St. Anthony’s Latch Key Program.
The Carpenter family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who cared for Ashley.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Ann Block
06/05/2010
Your family does not know me, and even Ashley didn't know me very well. I knew her from afar as I work at Dowling Catholic in the Attendance Office. I was there when Ashley came in late due to not feeling well, or going through recent treatments, and when she needed to leave early to do the same. She was incredible and such an inspiration. We have those kids that didn't want to come to school, and had numerous absence history due to choices in not coming to school. Then there was Ashley. She would feel horrible, but still would make every possible attempt to be in school. There were days when you could see in her eyes she was low on energy, and she would still always come in with a smile. We were all in envy of her and how she could make it in when others just forgot to set their alarms.
She was a wonderful person and will be remembered as a fighter and a nice person to those of us that knew her at Dowling. You have all made incredible sacrifices to help her. May she rest always in Gods gentle care and know her memory will always be a positive one to all of us who knew her.
Ann Block
Scott and Jan Williams
06/03/2010
Bobbie and the entire Crivaro/Carpenter family~
We were so shocked and saddened to hear of the loss of Ashley when we talked with John Jr. earlier this week. Please know we are sending our thoughts and prayers to everyone during this difficult time. She was such a beautiful girl!
Gods blessings to you.
reno faoro
06/03/2010
Dear Bobby and Joe: I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I have had a special place in my heart for the Crivaros since I came to town in 1985. I worked on their satelite dish and I quess since we both were Italian a bond started. John and Francis invited me over for a pasta dinner. Along with those two I had the pleasure in meeting Grandpa Pete and a couple of the boys. I have had the pleasure of them being my insurance provider. Bobby, John sr. and John jr. has always been nice with me, even though I was in a buying and selling frenzy for a while in the late 80s and 90s. I will always remember the Crivaros. It's been a pleasure knowing you guys.
Greg & Kate Harris
06/02/2010
We are filled with sorrow over Ashley's death. Although we have been away from our beloved Iowa hometown for close to 20 years, we know the Crivaro family well. Hearing news about her life through the years, she was an amazing young lady. Her smile, spirit and her goodness will remain alive forever in the hearts of everyone who knew her.
Please convey our deepest sympathies and regards to the entire family.
With Love and prayers,
Greg, Kate and Gracie Harris
Phoenix, AZ
Nanette LaVia
06/03/2010
Dear Bobbi and family:
I cannot begin to know how you feel losing your precious daughter Ashley. I only know that in this time of grief, when the pain and sadness leaves you with heavy hearts, cry out to the Lord.
2Co 12:10 "For when I am weak, then I am strong."
May God comfort you, Bobbi and Joe and give you strength, courage and understanding as you remain steadfast in His truth. As we go forward in a world of change and uncertainty, I offer my friendship and love. As your hearts begin to heal, may the beauty God bestowed on your beautiful Ashley, bring you sentiments of joy and great memories to cherish. May she rest in peace.
Nanette LaVia
Eric and Lil Waters
06/02/2010
Bobbi- Joe- Joseph and family,
We are so sincerely sorry to hear of Ashley's loss. Please know our prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. Ashley was a beautiful young lady and touched the hearts of many. May you find peace to know she is looking down from Heaven. Your strength and grace is a testiment to your love. We are continuing to pray for you all.
With deepest, most sincere sympathy-
Eric, Lil, Jena, Bailey and Nick Waters
Bonnie Ruben
06/02/2010
Bobbie and Joe, So sorry to hear of your loss, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Bonnie
Jeff Grabe
06/01/2010
Bobbie, Joe and Joey Carp,
I am so sorry to hear that Ashley has passed. She was such a tremendous young lady. I remember Ashley was in 5th grade when I came to St. Anthony's. Her class was the very first class I ever taught. I soon got to know Ashley and her hilarious sense of humor. I remember may times one student in particular was always finding ways to get hurt(don't worry Martha, I won't mention names) and whenever that student would get hurt, Ashley would come up with something funny to sat get her to laugh, and we would continue on with class. Then I remember one day in the lunch room there was a lot of noise coming from one of the tables. I walked over to see what was going on. Well, Ashley had been at and ISU game the night before. She was showing the rest of the jealous girls at her table the pictures of her and Jake Sullivan. The way she talked about him, she had me convinced that she and Jake were on a first name basis. Then after Jake graduated, I remember she moved on to Johnny Depp. She knew every movie that he was ever in. After she graduated from St. Anthony's, I would see her often because she worked for Danny at latchkey. One day really sticks in my mind and is probably my fondest memory of her. She had been out of school because of the cancer and I hadn't seen her in quite a while. I asked her how she was going and she said good, but she was super busy catching up with school work. I said, surprised "Oh, you are going to go back to Dowling this year?" She looked at me and kind of scoffed and said "Hell yes, I am going to graduate with my class." I looked at her and said well I shoulda never doubted you. That is just a small indicator of the fight and spirit of this courageous young lady. I am glad that we now have an angel in heaven with that much fight and spirit watching over us. RIP Ashley, if I ever see Jake or Johnny, I will let them know that I knew their biggest fan.
Jenny Thorson
06/01/2010
Hello,
Though I only knew Ashley through the Latchkey program, she was a one-of-a-kind girl. She was always smiling. Always smiling. It amazed me. She was facing this illness, fighting it daily, and yet she was always smiling. She has helped me see life differently, and I am 9 years older than her. During the last few days of Ashley's life, I talked to my 2nd graders about your family and the illness Ashley was facing. They took everything to heart and many of them poured out their thoughts into the letters they made Ashley and your family. Ashley and your family is an inspiration to me and I will never forget it. Your family will always be in my prayers. I know God took her with wide open arms and she is surrounded by Jesus, Mary, saints, angels and all of your loved ones that have passed away. She will always be shining down on you and speaking to your heart. Stay strong and God bless you.
Jenny Thorson
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Mike and Rose Marie Vasquez
06/01/2010
We are so terribly sorry for your loss. Your faith, hope and charity while suffering this cross has been an inspiration to our St. Anthony Parish family.
Know that our prayers will continue to be with you and your family.
With sympathy,
Mike and Rose Marie
Bill and Sharon Duma
06/01/2010
Dear Joe, Bobbie, and Joseph,
It is with a heavy heart that I write this message. Bill and I have felt so helpless being so far away from Des Moines during the past week, but please know that you were in our thoughts hourly since you went to the hospital last Thursday. As you know, we have followed Ashley's progress through the love and conversations of John and Frances, and always joined in their prayers. We will not be in Des Moines to share your sadness this week but please accept this note as a whisper in your ear that we love you. To you and to all your extended family we send our sympathy and prayers.
Love and peace to you,
Bill and Sharon Duma
Daron Buch
06/01/2010
Bobbie, I am so sorry to hear of Ashley's passing. I didn't often ask you about it while I was at the agency, but I was impressed with your strength and attitude when you spoke of her ordeal. Obviously I never met Ashley but from reading about her it's easy to see that she inherited her mother's courage. What an extremely impressive young lady. You have so much to be proud of.
I can't imagine how hard this must be. Things like this just don't make sense and they never will- until we get to see God in heaven. Please accept our heartfelt condolences. We prayed for your family often and will continue to pray that God's grace can give you and your family peace.
Rick and Vickie Wetzel
06/01/2010
Joe,Bobby and family,It is with deepest sympathy that we wish you all the strength and comfort the Lord has to offer in your time of dispair.Please let us know if we can do anything for you while you tend to your daughter.To follow are some Bible versus I find comfort in and I hope they will comfort you also.
Psalms 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Rick Wetzel and Family
Diane Rooney Schoeberl
06/01/2010
Joe and Family,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I know it has been many years since we have seen each other but I do keep in touch with some of those that we grew up with. The loss of a child has to be the hardest thing that a parent can ever go through. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
Kathy Scaglione
06/01/2010
It is so hard to understand why the Lord takes such a beautiful young woman and the pain she endured. I cannot begin to imagine loosing a child and you have to say, why God? His plan is always perfect and Ashley is sitting beside him. I pray for your family at this time and God's plan is so hard for us to understand.
Have peace at this time and know that Ashley is dancing with the angels.
God Bless.