Violet Ray Caramella

violet caramella

March 15, 1990 ~ June 14, 2025

Born in: Austin, Texas
Resided in: Fairview, North Carolina

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Violet Ray Caramella, 35, of Fairview, NC, passed away on June 14, 2025, in Montreat, NC, during a firefighter UTV training accident while proudly serving her community.

Born on March 15, 1990, Violet lived a life rooted in compassion, courage, and creativity. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Cellular Biology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She went on to work as an Advanced EMT and was training to become a firefighter, dedicating herself fully to helping others.

Violet was most at peace in the outdoors. She came alive in the forest, snorkeling at the beach, or searching for stones in a creek. She had a deep love for animals and spent her childhood surrounded by ducklings, goats, chickens, and more. Her creativity showed in everything she did, whether through her art, her green thumb, or her eclectic taste in music that spanned from bluegrass to Sleep Token.

She had a quick wit and a sarcastic sense of humor that could light up any room. Her presence was bold, funny, and unforgettable. Above all, Violet was a devoted and loving mother to her two children, the heart of her world.

She is survived by her husband, Juan Caramella; her daughter, Ava Ray Caramella (11); her son, Samuel Caramella (8); her sister, Glory Silwedel; her mother, Terri Lu Bencar; and her father, Darryl Silwedel.

A Firefighter Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 28 at Trinity of Fairview Church and will be streamed live via the Trinity of Fairview website (www.trinityoffairview.com) and the church’s YouTube channel. Her family will greet friends from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM on Saturday at the church, followed by an hour-long break from 1:00 until 2:00 PM to rest and eat lunch.

A Celebration of Life will follow from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Hickory Nut Gap Farm. Friends, family, and coworkers are invited to come together to share stories, remember Violet, and celebrate the incredible light she brought to the world.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made through the family’s GoFundMe (https://gofund.me/e0a93e29) to support celebration of life expenses, her children, and a memorial trip to spread her ashes in the places she loved most.

Violet was lovingly known as Sunshine to her fire department family, and that is exactly what she brought to the world. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.

Services

The Family Will Greet Friends: June 28, 2025 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Trinity of Fairview
646 Concord Road
Fletcher, NC 28732
(828) 628-1188
http://www.trinityoffairview.com

Add to My Calendar America/New_York 2025-06-28 11:00:00 2025-06-28 01:00:00 VioletRayCaramellaThe Family Will Greet Friends The Family Will Greet Friends 646 Concord Road,Fletcher, NC 28732

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Firefighter Memorial Service: June 28, 2025 2:00 pm

Trinity of Fairview
646 Concord Road
Fletcher, NC 28732
(828) 628-1188
http://www.trinityoffairview.com

Add to My Calendar America/New_York 2025-06-28 14:00:00 2025-06-28 14:00:00 VioletRayCaramellaFirefighter Memorial Service Firefighter Memorial Service 646 Concord Road,Fletcher, NC 28732

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Celebration of Life: June 28, 2025 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Hickory Nut Gap Farm
57 Sugar Hollow Road
Fairview, NC 28730
828-628-1027
http://www.hickorynutgap.com

Add to My Calendar America/New_York 2025-06-28 16:00:00 2025-06-28 08:00:00 VioletRayCaramellaCelebration of Life Celebration of Life 57 Sugar Hollow Road,Fairview, NC 28730

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Funeral Home Assisting The Family:

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)687-3530
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com

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  2. Violet was in one of my first kindergarten classes at Fairview and then I had the joy of getting to know Ava and Sam as students, too. They both have her same creative spirit and talent. We had recently reconnected when she was looking for a youth group for Ava. Ava had shown an interest in attending a church and Violet reached out to find her one. That was just the kind of mom she was. Encouraging her children to follow their passions. Violet brought her on Wednesday nights and within 2 weeks, she was excited to accept Christ and be baptized. All because of Violet’s willingness to provide something for her daughter’s enrichment and spiritual growth. May that give you all some comfort and peace.

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  3. May God rest your sweet soul Violet and protect you always. May He bring comfort and a peace that surpasses all understanding to all your friends and relations. Amen

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  4. I feel very Blessed to have shared in your growing up and watching you become a great Mom and person. You will be missed. All my prayers are with the family that I also know so well. Your friend!

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  5. I may not have known Violet as well as I wish I had. But I still knew her enough to know that she was a good person. She was a silly, goofy, outgoing, outdoorsy and kind hearted person. She always tried her best at whatever she was tasked with doing. For example during the hurricane was when I met her, she was usually there when I was there so we ended up getting along well. She made friends very easily like that, when the guys from Florida came to help she befriended them in a snap of a finger. She was not in the fire service for the money or the fame she did this to help people in a way they could not help and she knew it was dangerous. That’s why most people don’t do it because they fear the challenges that come with it, But she did not. She helped many many people, she saved many many lives she gave them hope and another chance at living when they did not think it was possible she was the candle in a dark room. It was heartbreaking when my father got a call and was told there was an accident and someone had died while doing training at Riceville and 2 others were badly injured. At 3:40 on that Saturday evening. We got in the truck and headed down to the fire department, we had gotten there and learned who it was that was involved and had lost their life, It took me a while to accept or in a way realize that she was gone and not coming back, it was supposed to be a fun UTV training, but no one knew it would end up being horrific in just the snap of a finger. And what I realized later the same night was that it could have been anyone in that side by side if not for the swim meet I had earlier that day that i didn’t even want to go to, I would have asked my dad if I could have gone with them. And he probably would have said yes. I could have been in that side by side when it crashed, but I wasn’t. A person I met that same night told me that Everything happens for a reason. I was meant to be at that swim meet, and not there. Everyone was where they were supposed to be. This was ment to happen how it did. It’s sad but it’s the truth. Violet, a mother who was taken from us that Saturday. We have to accept what happened and what happened happened, there is nothing we can do about it now or then. I guess what I am trying to say is honor the ones you love, honor your friends your family they won’t be here forever and neither will you, but you have to do the best that you can enjoy the time you have with them now until it’s to late and you wish that you had gotten to know them more like I do with Violet, or do more things with them. We all take these things for granted until you realize it can all be taken from you in a blink of an eye, appreciate what and who you have in your life.

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  6. Rest in peace Violet. As you are in heaven you will be missed in the fire service. May god bring comfort and piece that all understanding to all your friends and relatives. I hope you are fighting fires, do training exercises in heaven.

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  8. Violet was a truly special soul—strong, intelligent, and full of life. She lived with intention and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or stand up for what she believed in. Her creativity, passion, and inner light touched everyone fortunate enough to know her.

    She had a deep connection to the world around her, especially to animals. Whether caring for a beloved pet or simply admiring all the critters in nature around her.

    I’ll always remember the pure joy of childhood days with her—laughing until our sides hurt, lying on the trampoline with Glory under the open sky. Those moments were full of life, free spirited—just like Violet.

    What happened is deeply unfair, and there are no easy words for a loss like this. But even in this sorrow, we carry her with us—in our memories, in the love she gave, and in the way she inspired us to live more boldly and love more deeply.

    Violet, you were so loved by so many, and you always will be. Your presence will be missed more than words can say, but your spirit remains with us—in every act of service, every burst of laughter, and every creature that reminds us of your gentle, wild heart.

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  10. Sending our love, thoughts and prayers from our fire family to you all. My heart is heavy for everyone who is missing her. May you find comfort in the memories.
    – Charlotte Fire Department, “North POD” Fire Inspectors –

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  13. No hay palabras para describir tanto dolor. La conocí en un paso fugaz por nuestra ciudad, realmente un ser maravilloso. Seguía todas sus publicaciones y andanzas de su vida privada y laboral. Mostraba esa alegría de compartir con la familia, con sus animales, ver crecer a sus hermosos hijos, y también mostrar su pasión por el trabajo que tenia. – Vuela alto querida Violet, que tu luz siga iluminando y cuidando a tus seres queridos desde el otro plano. Descansa en Paz. Te abrazo desde la inmensidad.

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  14. My most heart felt and sincere sympathies to Violet’s parents, Terry & Darryl and all of her extended family and friends.
    Reading her tributes certainly shows what a mark she has made on this world. Clearly a remarkable soul, who will live on in hearts and memories.

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  15. Our deepest sympathy & prayers for Violet’s family, friends and those she proudly served with.

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  16. Our deepest sympathy & prayers for Violet’s family, friends and those she proudly served with.

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  17. Our hearts go out to Violet’s family, friends and everyone who knew and loved her. What a tremendous loss to her community, and to the community at large.

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  18. 🕊 My sincere condolences for Violet’s Family, Friends, Co-workers, and Communities that She served. Violet was a person that I would liked to have met. 🕊

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  21. To Juan, Ava and Sam. I’m praying for you and I am so honored to have known Violet as a little girl. Peace be with you..

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  22. Rest easy Sunshine.
    Prayers for her Family and friends to find peace and comfort going forward.
    I know you are feeling love like no other on this earth.

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  23. My heart goes out to Violet’s children Ava and Sam. Be strong your dad loves you and needs you.

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  24. Juan,Ava and Sam, as well as the rest of tbe family and friends. I am honored to have known Violet through her time living in Cochrane.
    My heart, love and prayers go out to you.
    Rest in sunshine and peace my friend.

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  26. Dear Terri Lu and family,
    We were so sad to hear of the news of Violets passing. I know she was doing her best work and it is a tragedy that she was involved in such an accident. We remember sweet little Violet as a toddler when you moved to Fairview. We are sorry that we did not get a chance to know her as an adult, she was a very accomplished and strong woman. Sending our condolences to you and to her dear family. May her memory be a blessing.

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