Bick, Carol A.

Bick, Carol A. (nee Everett) on Dec. 6, 2020. Beloved wife of Francis J. Bick; dearest mother of Heather (Rich) Morris, Frank Bick Jr. and David (Stacy) Bick; loving grandmother of Maggie, Andrew, Jackson (Kellie), Chloe, Karlie and Joni; dear sister-in-law of Velma Martise; our dear aunt, cousin and friend.

Services: Funeral at KUTIS SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd. Mon. Dec. 14, at 12:30 pm Interment J.B. National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Alzheimer’s Association of St. Louis, appreciated. Visitation Sunday 3-7pm.

Carol A. Bick – My beautiful wife provided me with a wonderful life for 60 years. She was humble and kind, and always put others first. I was blessed to have an angel by my side. She was talented as well. She was a ballerina, a majorette, and learned to play the piano. She was also an honor student at our high school which we graduated from in 1960. We married at 19 and we were blessed with three children and six wonderful grandchildren. We spent five years in the military, which was not easy with all the traveling we had to do. Our first child, Heather, was born in England in 1963. We both enjoyed England and the British People.

We were sent to Texas during the last year of my service. I then had the not-so-bright idea to re-up and stay in the military and go fly helicopters in Vietnam. Carol said “No” and more than likely saved my life. We instead came back home to St. Louis where my two sons were born.

Carol loved babysitting her grandchildren and was a wonderful mother and grandmother. Carol was also a great caregiver for her mother when she developed  Alzheimer’s in her early 80s. The disease runs in her family, so I should not have been surprised when Carol began showing symptoms at age 60, even though she was much younger than her mother or aunts were when their symptoms began.

I then became her caregiver. The Alzheimer’s Association has a men’s support group which met on a monthly basis. I joined that group many years ago and they provided me with much needed support through some very rough years.

I wrote a poem for myself and the group which I read at one of our meetings. I wanted to share that poem and encourage everyone to support and donate to the Alzheimer’s Association which has been invaluable to myself and my family during the time we cared for Carol.

CAREGIVER POEM:

It is not fair for her to suffer this way

But we do our best to care for her each day

Where can we turn for help and hope

Only to friends, family and maybe some dope

I get tired and angry and frustrated to no end

Will God ever help us and be our friend

I have never gone through a journey like this

I love her and want her to continue to exist

Lord only knows how she must feel

Lost and alone and trying to deal

She only wants your attention and love

And I pray each day for intervention from above

I try my best to make her feel safe and secure

But there are times  when it is hard to endure

There is no magic potion to cure her or make me feel good

But we continue to hope and wish that God could

I will do my best to care for her as long as she will live

And will always be by her side as long as I can give

If roles were reversed I know she would be there for me

No complaints no sorrow, only care and love would she provide me

So help me understand and give me that strength as that is the way it should be.  -Frank Bick