Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Carolyn Austin Fiore

Carolyn Austin Fiore, age 63, went to be with the Lord on August 8, 2008 after fighting a courageous 14-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was a longtime resident of Birmingham, formerly from Ackerman, Mississippi. She graduated from Ackerman High School in 1964 and attended Mississippi State University. She was a member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Tom Travis Austin and Hazel Burton Austin; a brother, W.C. Austin; and her sisters, Trudy Zilinskas, Geneva Harris and Nell Atkinson.
Mrs. Fiore is survived by her loving husband, Jerome (Jerry) Anthony Fiore, Sr.; step-children, Jerome Anthony (Tony) (Tammy), Donna Fiore and Angela Fiore Woods (Ian); brother, O'Keefe (Keith) Austin (Pearl); sister, Topsey Austin King; nieces, Sandra Cleary (Ben), and Sheila Cash (Herb); nephews, Bobby Atkinson (Janice), Garrett Erwin (Janice), and Jason Zilinskas (Allison); grandsons, Mathew Woods, Zachary Woods and Jerome Anthony Fiore III; and granddaughters, Emma Fiore, Ruth Fiore and Sara Fiore.

Mrs. Fiore was a very positive person with outstanding love for everyone. She never met a stranger and will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched. After moving to Birmingham in 1967, she began her banking career with Birmingham Trust National Bank (now Wachovia Bank). In 1984, she went to work for First Alabama Bank (now Regions Bank) where she worked as executive assistant to the chairman and CEO. Her banking career ended in 2001 after a 30-year career.

She was active in many community organizations and enjoyed volunteering on the Oncology Floor at St. Vincent's Hospital and at St. Peter's Church. She served as a member on the United Way Visiting Allocation Team and the Alabama Oncology Foundation. She was Vice President/President elect of the Birmingham Chapter of the Executive Women's International upon her retirement. She was also President of the CanSurvive GYN Cancer Support Group.

Mrs. Fiore also received the American Cancer Society's Life Inspiration Award for her extraordinary contributions of hope, courage and strength to others.

The family would like to send a special thank you to Sister Veronica Ryan of St. Peter's Church for her friendship and unconditional love throughout Mrs. Fiore's illness. She was a true friend. The family would also like to thank J. Max Austin, Jr., M.D. and his staff and also Bethany Smeraglia with New Beacon Hospice.

Visitation services will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church on Monday, August 11, 2008 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Christian burial mass will be at St. Peter's the Apostle Catholic Church on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. with burial at Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Peter's Catholic Church, 2061 Patton Chapel Road, Birmingham, AL 35216.
The family appreciates all the prayers and support shown during Mrs. Fiore's sickness. She suffers no more ... she is in the presence of the Lord. Ridout's Elmwood Chapel, 205-251-7227, is directing. Published in The Birmingham News on 8/11/2008