Obituary of Carol Kopeny Jones

Carol Kopeny Jones October 11, 1954 - August 10, 2020 Carol Jones (65) passed away peacefully at home in Lancaster, CA, with family by her side after a 10 month battle with a very aggressive cancer. Carol was the middle of five children, born in Oak Park, IL, to Elizabeth and Louis Kopeny, both of whom predeceased her. Her early childhood was spent moving back and forth across the country, however her family finally settled in Yorba Linda, CA. She attended Valencia High School in Placentia. Over the course of her lifetime she worked in a variety of fields including accounting, writing grant proposals, long-haul truck driving and driving a school bus. She was a great seamstress, book editor and motel manager. She got to experience life in many different places. In addition to California she lived in South Korea, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Colorado. Carol’s love of travel took her not just around the country but also around the world. She loved music. She had a vast collection of records and enjoyed going to concerts to hear her favorite musicians play. She was a brilliant conversationalist and never met a stranger. She fought passionately for equal rights for all and the need for love and kindness to prevail. Carol was always a fan of the underdog. She leaves behind two daughters, Elizabeth (Liz) Jensen of Lancaster, CA and Christina (Christy) Hawtrey (husband Chris) of Spring Hill, TN, and four grandchildren; Jake Jensen, Kate, Hayley and Sammy Hawtrey, as well as siblings: Betty Lou Wojciechowski, June Havlena, and Bob Kopeny. Her brother, Bill Kopeny, died in 2016. She will be missed by all who knew her. A special thanks to her niece, Michelle Sweitzer, from the state of Washington, who stayed by her side during the last month of her life and to the UCLA doctors who tried so desperately to save and extend her life. In particular, Dr. Buhr, Dr. Kim, Dr. Sheba, Dr. Wong, Audrey Zeh, NP and Dr. Chin as well as all of their supportive nurses and staff. She will live forever in our hearts and memories and we will miss her for the rest of our lives. Rest In Peace Our Sweet Carol.