Carol Sommers

Carol Marie Sommers, 84, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2025.

Carol was born Minneapolis, MN in 1940. She is survived by her brother, Kenneth Sommers, daughter Alison Sommers-Sayre, son-in-law David English, and grandchild Adaline English.

One of Carol's lifelong passions was travel. While in high school at Derham Hall, she spent time in post-war Germany as a foreign exchange student. After graduating from the University of Minnesota, she was an early Peace Corps volunteer, serving in Malawi in East Africa. While living in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, she earned graduate degrees from Simon Fraser University, taught college and had her daughter. After spending a year living in a camper van and traveling across Europe, Carol moved back to her hometown where she spent the next two decades, working in various roles mostly related to editing and writing. Later in life she lived in eastern Pennsylvania and central Wisconsin. She spent her last decade in St. Paul, embracing the other side of the Mississippi.

Throughout her life, Carol was a tireless advocate for issues she believed in and deeply involved in politics - from laying out political newspapers to hosting impromptu gatherings of like-minded individuals. Anyone who knew Carol was familiar with her natural artistry. She created unique home environments that highlighted her collected objects and sensibilities wherever she lived. She shared with many friends and family custom made books and cards. She will also be remembered for being incredibly well read and her vast book collection. Her spirit and creativity will be missed.

A Memorial Meeting will be held from 5 - 6 PM on Thursday, April 17, 2025 at Mueller Memorial, 835 Johnson Parkway, St. Paul, with guests able to gather beginning at 4:30 PM, and a reception to follow the service from 6 - 7 PM.