General Information
Full Name: Caroline Bakalyar
Date of Birth: May 29, 1991
Date of Death: December 19, 2013
Caroline’s life story
At the youthful age of 22, Caroline Rose Bakalyar entered God’s loving arms the afternoon of Thursday, December 19, 2013 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.
Her family will greet family and friends Thursday, December 26th from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Jordan. The Mass of Christian Burial is Friday, December 27th at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at St. John the Baptist Church, Jordan. Father Timothy Yanta will preside. Caroline will be laid to rest at Spirit Hill Cemetery, Jordan.
Caroline was born to proud parents Terrence Bakalyar and Maresa Stifter on May 29, 1991 in Springfield, MN. For most of her childhood she lived in St. Cloud, and in 2002 the family moved to Jordan.
A lover of the outdoors, Caroline enjoyed snowboarding, snowmobiling, boating and fishing. She enjoyed watching movies and was an avid reader. Caroline loved to bake with her siblings, and she was always consulting her grandmas for tips to make her recipes better. Caroline had a love for all things music. She expressed that love by participating in band and choir programs throughout her school years. She was active in sports during Junior High, and found her passion in music and theatre production in High School. Caroline was also active in speech, FCCLA and a member of the National Honor Society.
As a member of St. John the Baptist Church, Caroline was very active in youth group, went on mission trips and attended summer youth camps. She relished volunteering as a tutor at the parish school. Most recently she was working as a Wedding Coordinator.
Caroline graduated from Jordan High School in 2009. She attended the U of M – Twin Cities and Hennepin County Technical College for one year each. She finally found the right fit at Winona State University where she studied math education. College life consisted of hanging out with her friends and going to movies and concerts. Family and friendship were always most important to Caroline, and even during her last days, at St. Mary’s Hospital, she was still making friends for life.
Caroline was a vibrant, confident and compassionate person. She approached life with no fear and was always willing to try something new. She had a very easy-going personality and would befriend all she met. She truly took interest in you and was very accepting. Caroline will live on as she fulfilled a Christmas wish for many by being an organ donor.
Caroline will always be remembered for her vibrant personality and the way she loved her family and friends to the fullest.
Caroline is deeply missed and forever loved by her mother, Maresa (Ryan) Stifter-Murray of Jordan; father, Terrence (Kristi) Bakalyar of Elysian; siblings, Reihle, Augusta, Griffin and Carter; grandparents, Linus and Mary Stifter, Terrence Sr. and Donna Bakalyar, Gerald and Patricia Murray, Edward and Linda Bluhm; great-grandmas, Adeline Bass, Elizabeth “Betty” Bakalyar; a very large extended family and many devoted friends.
Visitation
When: Thursday, December 26th, 4-8 pm
Location: Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home
Address: 104 First Street West
Jordan, MN 55352
There also will be visitation at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.
Service Information
When: Friday, December 27th, 11:00 am
Location: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Address: 313 E 2nd Street
Jordan, MN 55352
Interment
Spirit Hill Cemetery
Jordan, MN
