Obituary of Carolyn Barbara Gil

Carolyn (Howell, nee White) Gil was born in Philadelphia on July 2, 1942 to Justin W. and Doris (nee Frank) White. She grew up in Feltonville, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Olney High School in 1960. Carolyn had two main careers during her lifetime. Her first career was as a bookkeeper for numerous Philadelphia educational institutions, small businesses, and nonprofits, including Greene Street Friends School, The Chestnut Hill Spice Shop, Northwest Interfaith Movement, the Delaware Valley Community Reinvestment Fund and others. After retiring, Carolyn became a child care provider, caring for young children. She was fondly known as "Nana" under many names, not only to her grandchildren but to several children in the greater Philadelphia area. If you knew Carolyn, you knew that she was a true polymath. She had a wide range of interests and explored every one of them to the greatest depth possible. Her expertise was appreciated by others, and was, in fact, the basis of many deep and lasting friendships. Carolyn used this expertise to support friends and family, and to inform her involvement in numerous social and environmental justice campaigns. Carolyn was also a dreamer. She was filled with ambitious goals and plans, many of which she lived to accomplish with her husband, Carlos, and her family. She was equally content at home as she was traveling. Carolyn was strong of character and a fierce champion of justice who freely gave any spare moments to the support of loved ones and friends. She also had a wicked and eclectic sense of humor, and many friends and family remember well her ability to bring you to tears with laughter. Her love of the arts led to an appreciation of a wide range of music and visual arts, including her main artistic passion, photography. In photography, she found her medium and spent many years developing her skills behind the lens as well as in the darkroom, displaying her work in several galleries in the Philadelphia area. Carolyn was also an avid walker, logging thousands of miles with her long-term walking partner, Rebecca. Carolyn devoted her entire life to ensuring that her family, friends, loved ones, and as much of the earth as she could touch were protected and remained resilient. Her vibrant spirit is unforgettable to anyone who she met and the world is in a better place thanks to this strong and remarkable woman. Carolyn died at Albert Einstein Hospital on March 6, 2022. She leaves behind her husband Carlos A. Gil, sons Evan A. Howell (Saori), and Brian M. Howell (Yuiko Ono), stepchildren Yolanda Gil Ubide, Daniela Gil Ubide, Carlos E. Gil Gonzalez, Alejandro A. Gil Gonzalez, and seven grandchildren Erika, Karen, Luna, Indigo, Kentaro, Nanami, and Momoka. Carolyn was predeceased by her brother, Walter White. A memorial service will be held at Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd, 3820 The Oak Road, Philadelphia, PA at 11:30 a.m. on March 19, 2022. Masks will be optional, though are requested where possible. There will be an outdoor reception immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Books Through Bars, 4722 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143 or to contribute to the GoFundMe campaign to support Carolyn's 3 young grandchildren visit https://gofund.me/38115247