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 My sister, Carol, held a 70th birthday party for me at her home in early February while she was suffering from cancer and its treatment. It was a wonderful book and tea party with lots of our friends and a boatload of laughs. She was supported by her close friends and family in organizing this party. This was my most recent memory of Carol's friendship and generosity in the face of her disease. I want to reach out and thank her for this wonderful and special memory of my 70th birthday. I will miss her every day. Love you, sis.  

Carol was the ultimate hostess every Thanksgiving for the gathering of the Orr family to celebrate life, family and blessings. Her graciousness, patience and warmth made everyone feel welcome and loved. She was a brave woman who fought to live as long as possible for her family. Please accept our sincerest condolences.

Carol will always be remembered by our family as being a wonderful friend and neighbor. Always a ready smile and support. Never judgmental. Willing to accept you as you are and be able to laugh about it all. She will be dearly missed. We couldn't have asked for better neighbors.
Wayne, you and your family are in our prayers. Please let us know if there's anything we can do.

I started teaching dance classes at Aspen Hill 18 years ago. Carol was in the first group to take the classes. She’d never taken dance classes, but she loved to dance and was willing to work. She took every class. She worked. There was never a time she couldn’t make it to a rehearsal or a performance. She learned and never complained. That was Carol.
 

When we started to perform, she was afraid - stage fright - but she overcame it and she learned to smile and enjoy herself on stage. She was great.
 

Carol enjoyed dance, she enjoyed life, and shared that joy and enthusiasm with everyone. In these last few months we’ve missed her. We always will. But we’re richer for the time she spent with us.
 

When we can, we’ll all get together and dance and sing and drink and celebrate Carol’s life. Until then, we’ll think about her and remember all of those wonderful times together.

 Several times since Carol has passed, I've tried to sit down and compose my fond memories of Carol. Each time, I break down and seem unable to finish my thoughts. This time I'm determined to complete these remembrances. As I compose my thoughts ......there are things that I think of that I want to tell Carol ......like we never finished some of our conversations, and they need to be finished. Sort of strange. But I will tell her in my prayers.
Anyway, I have known Carol since both our daughters were 3 and in Childcare at Olney Childrens Center which was about 1989. We hit it off right away and started taking our girls on many outings together in addition to doing "girlfriend only" activities. Kriste and my daughter Stephanie made their First Holy Communion together and were in Brownie Girl Scouts together. We attended different shows at the Kennedy Center with our girls, and Carol and I had lunches, dinners, many Happy Hours, and golfed many times. People might not know this but Carol was a great golfer (and I was horrible). Wayne and Carol were both great golfers and they put up with me and my terrible shots (luckily my husband wasn't that bad). Wayne once remarked when I took my shot and pulled up a large chunk of dirt and grass, that it was a "professional divot"!
So in 1998, we planned a trip to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Zion and a few other parks Outwest and Wayne, Carol and the girls joined us. It was a fabulous trip and one of my most favorite vacations of all times! In Las Vegas, Carol got us front row seats (still not sure how she did this) to see Cirque du Soleil ( which was just beginning its debuts) and we were so close, we could see the sweat dripping off the men and women's faces. At the Luxor Casino (the Egyptian pyramid) Stephanie and Kristie sang and recorded a song that I can't remember now, but it was good, and Katie and I sang "Walk Like and Egyptian" and it was so much fun (Katie sounded so much better than I). At the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, we all stayed in little cabins at the edge of the Canyon and it was awesome. We ate breakfast at the Lodge at the Grand Canyon and Carol and I loved the homemade granola that was so good, and I have never been able to replicate since then. We also took an unbelievable mule trip down the canyon, that everyone was a little nervous about, but turned out to be so very cool (still a little frightening). I have the group pictures from that trip Outwest in a big book that stores these cool memories forever!
After that, life became very busy for both of us, however we still tried to get together for shows, happy hours, book clubs and always family events (birthdays, graduations, anniversary parties, weddings and baby showers)! Kriste was a bridesmaid in Stephanie's wedding in 2007 and we were able to help Kriste get her job at the FDA. She has done so well at this job and we are so very happy for her. Carol got involved with her dance group around this time, and I was amazed at how she flourish into a beautiful dancer from the first time I saw her in a show until one of the last times I saw her. She loved to dance and had become so professional and graceful looking.
So, I could go on and on about Carol and all our fun memories but I think I will stop here and just say that Carol was one of the smartest, kindest persons that I knew. She was beautiful both inside and out and she always seemed to be up and happy, even though I knew things were not always good. She loved to laugh and have a good time, and she had the best giggle ever, that always made me laugh harder. Her family was so very important to her and I know she just adored her grandchildren, always sending me very special pictures of them.
So I will end this with sending all my love to Wayne, Katie and Kriste, as I know how difficult this road has been for you and your families; and hope that we will stay in touch ...........and in my prayers, I will continue my conversations with Carol! 

 Carol was/is/will always be my beautiful dancing honey badger flamingo soul sister. So hard to write down my feelings and all that we shared. I am blessed to say there are so many. They come out in pieces with smiles, laughter and tears. I miss her so much.
 

I remember how I dreaded ballet. Carol rarely missed class, and was always so encouraging. In ballet we would get in trouble because we were always laughing and talking. Elena would yell – Girls, Shut-up and pay attention! Then we would whisper-laugh how cool to be called girls at our age! Carol coined us “the lumberjacks of ballet” as we were not dance swans on the floor, but in our minds, how we soared! That is how our beautiful friendship began. So many hours on the dance floor laughing and having fun pretending to be other things/people, like arctic birds, gypsies, chorus line gals, Argentine tango chicas, and one cannot forget “Be Italian” – How we all had fun with that one. Carol knew most of Elena’s original dances and we traveled the world together in dance. Even if Carol was not in the dance, she would always know what move came next and would always help out. If we were dancing Paso Doble or a dance that had passionate music, we would bring on our best accents literally before going on stage, and say something silly like we must dance this dance with such passion as if the life of our country depends on this one dance, or something crazy. Then we would laugh and go out and perform. At performances Carol always brought extra of everything – bobby pins, safety pins, flowers for hair, jewelry, makeup, food, water… If someone was asking for something backstage, you would hear, “Check with Carol, I bet she will have an extra.” Carol and I also bonded on how we like to do our makeup. We would have our full stage make-up on at 3:30 for a 7:30 performance, but in our minds, we were ready and would not have to worry about it later, even if we sweat most if off in pre-rehearsal. It was fun sharing putting on makeup with the other girls at my house or Mel’s house with Carol. We would also have one of Carol’s many play lists going and we would laugh. At times when we were nervous or upset about anything (like if we messed up in a dance), she would remind us, “that if this is our biggest worry, then life is good.” How she composed the end of year dance limerick all those years is incredible and all the gift bags she did over the years for all the girls is amazing. She was the glue to our dance team. And she would say, “It’s all good!”
 

Our friendship grew off the dance floor too. When I doubted myself and would over worry about things she was always there to listen to me and encourage me. She was my exercise buddy at the gym. The two of us were so funny when trying to set up the time we would meet and what we would do – Carol would say, “I’ll do what you want to do.” Then I would say, “I don’t care, I’ll do whatever”. Then she would say, “me too.” And then we would just laugh and say, “we are never going to make it to the gym at the rate we are going!” We did so many things together – dance, theater shows, dance trips, book club (she was always passing books to me). Her last one meant a lot as it was very personal to me. Looking through pictures, I can’t even begin to count the celebrations I shared with her - birthday parties, Russian Xmas and New Year’s Parties (those had some fun themes), her and Wayne’s 35th was a blast, family baby showers and weddings! The tres flamingos came from the snow storm at my birthday party, and she and Mel put these 3 pink flamingos on top of the snow in front of my house so people could find the party. I was laughing so hard and asked if I could keep them. They were affectionately named, Ruth, Edith and Anne – after our middle names. I’m so glad they made it back to Carol’s yard so she knew her flock was with her. And her flock is so many. I wonder how many limericks Carol wrote? Not only was she so special to me , but to so many other people too. She made you feel so special. I also cherished our walks around her lake, and sitting on her back deck these past years. I loved just being with her, wherever that would take us. Carol was also one of the toughest people I know. She fought a battle like no one else, and it may have got her body, but it never got her spirit.
 

I love and miss you, Carol. I am so thankful that God blessed me with your precious friendship. Your light and memories will live on.
 

Dear Wayne, Katie, Logan, Kriste, Adam, Sadie and Grayson (all extended family too), We are so sorry for your loss. Know we are thinking of you all and love you guys so much. She was one of a kind!
 

Peace and love,
Laura, Steve and Matt