Carol Chelsea Finch, 81, of Howell, Michigan, passed away on March 26, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, authenticity, laughter, adventure, and a garden admired by many.

Born April 20, 1944, in Howell, Michigan, to James and Esther Hall, Carol grew up in the community she would always call home. She graduated from Howell High School in 1962, where she formed lifelong friendships. After graduation, Carol attended cosmetology school and worked in salons for several years. She married and started a family and began to pursue a formal university education. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree and Teaching Certificate from Eastern Michigan University, followed by her Master’s Degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She went on to spend more than 20 years teaching visually impaired K–12 students in Western Ohio, leaving a lasting mark on countless young lives.

Carol’s love story with James “Jim” Finch began when the two reconnected at their 30-year high school reunion in 1992. They married in July 1993 in Anchorage, Alaska. Together, Carol and Jim logged tens of thousands of miles: wintering in Hawaii, cruises that delivered them to Russia, the Mediterranean and through the Panama Canal, and crisscrossing the country by RV until they had touched every single state. They spent many winters in Florida, where they took up ballroom dancing and built more lasting friendships.

Back home in Howell, Carol poured her heart into her garden. For more than 25 years, she cultivated flower gardens of breathtaking beauty. She always made sure that time with family was filled with quality moments and genuine laughter, and her smile and quick wit were always at the ready.

Carol is survived by her son, Ira Shertzer and his wife Emily; her daughter, Kelly Longsdorff and her husband John; her stepson, Mike Finch and his wife Michelle; her grandchildren, Levi, Weston, Drew, and Kayla; her great-grandchild, RJ; and her brothers, Don Hall and his wife Donna, and Bob Hall and his wife Nancy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Finch (July 2020); and her parents, James Hall (1959) and Esther Hall (2017).

Throughout her decline, and in her final days she was comfortable, with family and those she loved. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to a dementia or memory care charity of your choosing, in Carol’s honor.