Mona Carlisle

As her loved ones can certainly attest, Mona Carlisle truly understood the secret to a life well lived. She was a constant source of strength for those around her, even in the most difficult of times. A proud wife and mother, Mona was overjoyed to watch her family tree grow to include so many branches of loved ones she adored. She was well known for her solid work ethic and for the firm foundation of faith upon which she built her life. Mona was a dedicated member of her community, and she was the sort of person everyone seemed to know. She was always willing to go above and beyond to serve others in ways both great and small. Deeply loved, Mona will be forever missed by those who knew her best.

Although the 1930s were trying days due to the unrelenting grip of the Great Depression, there was also much to celebrate. The silver screen was lit with notable actors Clark Gable and Katharine Hepburn, Monopoly began its journey to becoming a household family game, and Fred Astaire mesmerized audiences with dancing Cheek to Cheek. Closer to home, excitement was buzzing in the lives of Clare and Beatrice (Abbott) VanHorn as they announced the birth of the baby girl they named Mona on September 10, 1935, in Bloomingdale, Michigan.

Growing up, Mona was a typical young girl of her generation in many ways. She was raised in the family home in her hometown of Bloomingdale alongside her siblings, Helen and David. While pursuing her education, Mona attended and graduated from Bloomingdale High School. Not long after graduating, she went on to complete secretarial school through Western Michigan University.

New and exciting changes were on the horizon for Mona as she met the man who would quickly become the love of her life. His name was Raymond Carlisle, and the two first met after being set up on a blind date with mutual friends. It didn’t take them long to fall deeply in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Mona and Raymond were married in the presence of family and friends on September 21, 1957, enjoying a honeymoon in the Smokey Mountains. The couple moved to Ohio, where Raymond received a job in Cleveland and Mona worked as an executive secretary for the president of Ryerson Steel Corporation. They shared a passion for dancing and took the opportunity whenever they could. In fact, when they were dating, Raymond often saved his money to buy a new record to share with Mona, and they would dance together in her apartment.

All who knew Mona can surely agree that, of all the things she loved in life, she treasured her family above all else. Throughout their 55 years of marriage, she and Raymond were overjoyed to welcome their two beloved children, Mark and Connie, into their hearts and home. Mona truly stepped into the new role of a mother and devoted herself to raising her children into kind and hardworking individuals. She was always supportive and encouraging of Mark and Connie, but Mona also believed in letting her children make their own mistakes and learn lessons for themselves. Later in life, she was thrilled to become a grandmother to Taylor, Chelsea, Linsey, Jessica, and Gary. Mona adored her grandchildren and doted on them whenever she could. She loved nothing more than spending time with her family members.

Never one to sit still for long, Mona pursued many hobbies to stay busy. Her favorite thing to do was help others in whatever way she could. In order to serve her community, Mona donated both her time and finances to church, bake sales, and fundraisers. She had a long list of foundations that she supported over the years. Mona and Raymond were youth leaders in Brecksville, Ohio. He was an usher, and they both volunteered for many church activities and often chaperoned youth trips. Mona and Raymond were members of multiple dance clubs around Cleveland and, while living near Lakeland, Florida, they participated in special event and holiday dances at the community clubhouse in Anglers Cove. Bingo, golf, shuffle, and many other events were often made more enjoyable by their involvement. She was also an excellent skater. Mona was known to take the kids to the roller rink on Sunday afternoons to skate the day away. She could skate backwards and twirl, and she was just as comfortable on wheels as she was on her own two feet. Mona made friends with ease and formed many lasting relationships. And had a lifelong passion for gardening. Mona and her family would go boating in the summer and take skiing trips in the winter, including to places such as New York, Vermont, Utah, Colorado, and even Austria in 1988. They had received a brochure in the mail that caught their attention and were able to ski the Alps and tour the Olympic Village. The family also visited Salt Fork State Park, taking their boat, “The Rinky Dink,” along with them.

After Raymond died in 2012, Mona enjoyed spending time with Tom Thompson, a gentleman she met at Anglers Cove. For the last eight years Mona and Tom have been loving companions. They ventured on a few cruises together with friends and found ways to bring each other joy.

When reflecting on the life of Mona Carlisle, it is easy to see her unwavering strength and unconditional love for her family. She was a shining example of kindness and charity, and she was known to be a woman of great faith. Nothing brought Mona greater joy than spending time with those she loved. She faced challenges head-on with determination. Though she will be dearly missed, Mona leaves behind a priceless legacy that her loved ones will be proud to carry on in her footsteps.

Mona Carlisle, of Brecksville, OH, Age 86, died peacefully with her family at her side on July 18, 2022. Mona was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond; and sister, Helen (Ralph) Ewert. Surviving are her children: Mark (Susan) Carlisle and Connie (David) Gile; grandchildren: Taylor Carlisle, Chelsea (Kristi) Gile, Linsey Gile, Jessica (Trey) Sommers, and Gary (Jordan) Jones; brother, David (Barbara) VanHorn; companion, Tom Thompson; and several nieces and nephews. A Life Story Service will be held Wednesday (JUL 27) 12 PM at Betzler & Thompson Life Story Funeral Homes, 60900 M-40, Paw Paw (269) 657-3870. Visitation will begin 1-hour prior. A reception will immediately follow where food, drinks, and stories can be shared. Burial at West Oshtemo Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held in Cleveland, Ohio at a later date. Visit Mona’s webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com to archive favorite memories, photos, and sign her guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve.