Carlene Ann Lenard, 64, Green Bay, passed away Friday, June 9, 2023.  She was born on February 17, 1959 in Green Bay to Stephen T. and Florence L. Baranczyk.

Carlene graduated from Green Bay West High School in 1977. She worked in the banking world for nearly 40 years, starting with First Northern Savings Bank – continuing with the bank through the transition to Bank Mutual – until Bank Mutual was bought out by Associated Bank in 2018, when she then retired early.

The best word to describe Carlene is genuine.  She was very welcoming, vibrant and caring. She always put others, and their needs, before herself.  Carlene would give you the shoes off her own feet if you were in need and go without.  She was a very rare person whose sudden and early passing, due to late-detected ovarian cancer, leaves her family devastated.  Saying she will be greatly missed is an understatement, she was one of a kind and the void due to her loss will never be able to be filled.

Carlene enjoyed being outside, in the sunshine, planting flowers and gardening. She had a green thumb; all her plants and flowers thrived every year. She also enjoyed shopping, watching feel-good Hallmark movies and bringing new recipes to life in the kitchen.  Carlene especially liked boutique shopping in Door County, fish boils at Pelletier's Restaurant, visiting Wilson's Restaurant for a scoop of ice cream or buying bags of candy at Door County Confectionery in Fish Creek. The family would go to Door County every summer to do these things during her daughter Faith's childhood, which created fond memories.

Carlene was known for being the hostess with the mostest. She loved socializing with family and friends, having parties where she could showcase her exceptional cooking and baking skills and opening her home to everyone. She liked watching and cheering on Wisconsin sports teams, especially the Green Bay Packers, and was able to enjoy attending a game with Faith last autumn.  She brought Faith to her first Packers game and Faith brought Carlene to her last one.

Carlene's love language was gift giving, teaching those around her how to give without expecting anything in return.  Christmas time was particularly special at Carlene's house, with her always having tons of gifts wrapped and ready to be gifted, overflowing the space of the tree.

Carlene also enjoyed attending farmer's markets, crafting and cross-stitching beautiful pieces of work.  She loved attending live music shows, going to dinners and having picnics with her close friends, specifically spending time with former co-worker turned best friend, Cindy Kakac. She also spent time volunteering for the Salvation Army, bell ringing for donations during the holidays.

Carlene was a wonderful mother. She cared for her daughter Faith and son-in-law Ethan very deeply and gave them everything she possibly could.  The three of them were lucky to take a trip together to Hawaii in 2019 and they will always cherish the memories made on that trip.  Her daughter is very grateful that she was able to have such a selfless and loving parent. Faith feels very blessed that she was able to be by her mom's side during the final week of her earthly life.  If love could have saved Carlene, she would have lived forever.

Carlene is survived by her mother, Florence L. (Kleczewski) Baranczyk; daughter and son-in-law, Faith (Lenard) and Ethan Erlandson; sister and brother-in-law Sandra (Baranczyk) and Jeffrey Geyer; niece, Andrea Geyer and grand-niece Paisley Doro.

She was preceded in death by her father, Stephen T. Baranczyk.

Visitation will be at St. Jude Catholic Church, 1420 Division Street, Friday June 23, 2023, at 9:30 am.  The Memorial Mass will be held immediately after, at 11:00 am.

Faith requests that if you send flowers to choose yellow arrangements, as that was Carlene's favorite color.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Ovarian Cancer Research Allianc e in memory of Carlene.

https://give.ocrahope.org/give/206191/#!/donation/checkout