Carol Lynn Muñoz

Carol Lynn Muñoz, beloved mother, sister, aunt, fiancée, and friend, passed away on

Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the age of 55.

Carol was born on April 21, 1971, at St. James Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, to Shirley

Muñoz and Nobel Muñoz. She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley, in 2022, and

her father, Nobel, in 2008.

Five years older than her younger brother, Jason, Carol embraced the role of big sister

throughout her life. She was a kind, compassionate, and spirited woman who lived with exuberance, loved deeply, and always made time for the people who mattered most to her.

A graduate of JFK Memorial High School in Iselin, New Jersey, Carol demonstrated her

caring nature from an early age. While still in high school, she volunteered at a local hospital as a Candy Striper, giving her time to help bring comfort and companionship to patients during their hospital stays.

Her lifelong love of animals led her to pursue veterinary studies at Becker Junior College in

Leicester, Massachusetts, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Applied Animal Sciences. While attending college, she also pursued another of her passions, competing in dressage as a member of her college equestrian program.

Above all else, family and the people she loved held a special place in Carol’s heart. She was the proud mother of three sons: Scott Licata, 30, and twins Richard Henderson and Eric Henderson, 22. She is also survived by her younger brother, Jason Munoz, 50; her nephew Caelan Munoz; and many cousins and extended family members who loved her dearly.

For the last 15 years of her life, Carol shared a deeply devoted relationship with her fiancé,

Wayne Fishel. Together they built a life in Brushton, New York, and remained committed to one another through difficult times as well as joyful ones. Their relationship was grounded in love, loyalty, companionship, and the simple happiness they found in being together.

One of their favorite memories was a road trip to Florida, during which they stopped in

South Carolina and spent several days at a hotel near the beach. They passed the time

walking along the shore, enjoying each other’s company, and making the kind of quiet memories that meant the most to them.

Carol and Wayne were also devoted dog parents to their beloved JoJo, whom they doted on like a toddler. JoJo accompanied them on car rides, outings, and everyday adventures whenever possible. Together, Carol, Wayne, and JoJo created a peaceful little home for themselves amid the chaos of life—a place filled with affection, companionship, and the comfort of simply being together.

Through Wayne, Carol became part of another family that loved her deeply. She shared a special bond with Rose and Adam Samelski; Careana Gratton-Turcotte, who considered Carol not simply a sister-in-law but a sister; Careana’s husband, William Turcotte; and their daughter, Leona. From the time Leona was born, she knew and loved Carol as her aunt. Their connection never depended upon formal titles; they were family in every way that mattered.

Those who knew Carol will remember a woman who approached life with passion and

enthusiasm. She had a way of turning ordinary moments into lasting memories and believed that the best experiences were those shared with the people she loved.

One such memory has remained especially dear to her brother Jason for forty years. In 1986,the two siblings decided they wanted to do something special for their parents for Father’s Day. They worked and saved their money together to purchase tickets for the family to attend a New York Mets doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As if the games themselves were not enough, local radio station Z100 was holding a banner contest that day. For three days, brother and sister worked together painting and decorating an old bedsheet. Their creation featured a hot-air balloon soaring through a sky filled with clouds, carrying the Mets logo beneath the words, “Flying High with the NY Mets and

Z100!”

Between the two games, contestants were invited onto the field to parade their banners,

beginning near the Mets bullpen. The experience of walking onto the field together would have been memorable enough—but Carol and Jason won the contest. Their prize was two tickets to see Michael Jackson’s Bad concert at Madison Square Garden.

For Jason, the memory is about much more than baseball, a contest, or a concert. It

represents the kind of sister Carol was: someone who dreamed up something wonderful, threw herself completely into it, worked side by side with the people she loved, and somehow made the experience unforgettable.

Carol’s life will be remembered through countless moments like these—in her devotion to her sons, her love for Wayne, her compassion for animals, the families she brought together, her generosity toward others, and the joy and energy with which she approached life. She was a mother, a big sister, an aunt, a fiancée, a devoted dog mom, and a cherished member of more than one family. The titles may have been different depending upon who was speaking, but the feeling behind them was always the same:

She was loved, and she was family.

Her presence will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all whose lives she touched.

A memorial service celebrating Carol’s life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Carol’s family asks that those wishing to honor her memory consider

making a donation in her name to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at

www.nationalmssociety.org.