Caroline Gentleman

It is with great sadness that the family of Caroline Anne Gentleman announce her passing.  Caroline, age 75 died peacefully at her home in Winston Salem, NC surrounded by her loving family.  She is survived by her daughter Courtney Gentleman Schill and son-in-law Randy Schill, in addition to her numerous cousins, friends, nieces and nephews whose lives she touched greatly.  Caroline was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 29, 1944 to Thomas & Madeline Tataries.  She graduated from St. Vincent’s Nursing School in 1965 and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree from Nova Southeastern University and a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from Florida International University.  Caroline was an accomplished nurse executive. She oversaw nursing operations as Chief Nursing Officer at several major medical centers across the US.  Throughout her career she was a fierce advocate for her staff, patients and their families.  In 1988, she was honored to participate in the Johnson & Johnson/Wharton Fellows Program in Management for Nurse Executives.  Among her many accomplishments, she was most proud of the integral role she played in the achievement of Magnet Designation status as well as her leadership in establishing the Case Management & Palliative Care programs at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital.  Her lifelong passion for serving others continued well into her retirement.  For years she served as an appraiser for the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program.  She believed strongly in end of life care and education.  She served on the Hospice of the Piedmont’s Board of Directors from 2015 – 2018. She valued the work done by Hospice of the Piedmont, where she was often a guest speaker at community education events.  Caroline’s greatest source of joy and pride was her daughter Courtney.  She instilled in her the qualities she admired most in life– independence, authenticity, compassion and joie de vivre. She was so happy the day Randy joined her family.  She loved his sense of humor and sharp wit, but most importantly how he was the perfect complement to Courtney.  From her early childhood to her death, Caroline shared her wonderful sense of humor, gift of friendship and deep and abiding faith with everyone she met.  She loved to travel, take her fur baby Dakota to the dog park and enjoy good food and wine.  Caroline was a lover of music and theater.  She couldn’t resist a sing-along, whether invited or not. She enjoyed a good political debate – of which she had many.  She also spent decades tormented by the game of golf, through which she made life-long friends. Caroline will be sadly missed by Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.  Caroline’s strong faith was the foundation of her life. She lived her faith through her volunteer work at Holy Family Catholic Church, her bible study group and her participation with The Elizabeth Anne Seaton Guild. Caroline’s compassion for others, strength of character and genuine zest for life is an inspiration and comfort to all who were blessed to have had her in their life.  A Remembrance Gathering will be held from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Sunday, November 10 at Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel located at 6685 Shallowford Rd.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 11 at Holy Family Catholic Church located at 4820 Kinnamon Rd. Church reception to follow.  Per family request, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in honor of Caroline A. Gentleman to Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Drive, High Point NC 27262 or Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston Salem 27103.