Carol Sierk

Carol Lanza Sierk

Carol passed away at home from metastatic breast cancer on June 29 at the age of 77.  She was born to James Lanza and Muriel Lanza.  She graduated from high school in Lebanon, NH, and attended Keene State College in Keene, NH.  She taught home economics for several years before becoming an Extension Agent with Cornell Cooperative Extension on Long Island.  She moved to Batavia, NY, to work in the same role, which is where she met the love of her life, Marty Sierk.  They married in 1970 and had two children, Eileen and Peter.  Together they owned a dairy farm in Darien, NY.  She earned her master’s degree and spent several years teaching gifted and talented students in local schools.

In 1993, both Marty and Carol felt called to become pastors, attending Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.  They were ordained in the United Methodist Church and each served several churches in the Wyoming County area.  After Marty’s sudden death in 2001, Carol took over pastoring his church, Trinity United Methodist Church in Attica, NY, until her retirement in 2011.  At that time she moved to Fairport, NY, to be close to Eileen and her grandchildren, whom she adored.  

Carol and Marty loved to travel, including trips to Israel, Ireland, Scotland, and Greece.  After Marty died, Carol continued to travel and developed a special fondness for Iceland, which she visited both at Christmas and again in the summer.  She highly recommends that you visit.

She was always involved in church and local activities no matter where she lived.  She enjoyed Home Bureau, Genesee Chorale, Attica Founders Day, Red Hat Society, Community Bible Study, Perinton Senior Chorus, Walk to Emmaus, and had a special love for Chrysalis.

Carol was predeceased by her parents, Jim and Muriel Lanza, and her husband, Martin.  She is survived by her sister Lois (Vincent) Abbott, her daughter Eileen (Dan) Adams, her son Peter (Rachel), and her grandchildren Elizabeth, Emily, and Derek Adams.

Calling hours will be 4-7 pm on Thursday, July 1, at David A. Doser Funeral Home at 76 S Main St, Fairport, NY.  A graveside service will be held at 1 pm on Friday, July 2 at Darien Cemetery on Broadway Road in Darien, NY.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 24 with time and location to be determined.  Memorials can be made to American Cancer Society or East Rochester United Methodist Church.

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