Carolee Marie Vogel Kaba, 85, passed unexpectedly from this earth in the early morning hours of Thursday, December 4,2025.
Carolee was born May 30, 1940, in Hackensack, NJ to Robert F. and H. Frances (Hegmann) Vogel. She was the first of three children and grew up in Wayne, NJ. She graduated from Montclair State College. Throughout college, Carolee dated James Ronald (“Ron”) Kaba and they were married on July 1, 1961.
They raised 4 children in Manalapan, NJ, before moving their family to Central Florida in 1976 and settling in Ocoee, FL in 1977. Carolee was a stay-at-home mom until the early 1980s when she worked as Secretary to the Dean at Valencia Community College in Orlando. She then worked at HBJ Publishing in the Information Technology department until her retirement in 2002. She was involved with the American Business Women’s Association during the 1990s and became President of her chapter. Once retired, Carolee and Ron enjoyed traveling throughout the US via their timeshare. Carolee always enjoyed reading, theatre, movies, and line dancing. Cookies and popcorn were her favorite treats. She loved spending time with her family, especially her four grandchildren and her beloved dog, Ginger, and having them all together at holidays.
Her Catholic faith was very important to Carolee, and she volunteered at her parish, Holy Family, every Thursday at the chapel to observe the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist. After losing her husband Ron in 2020 to a brief battle with cancer, Carolee finally sold her family home in Ocoee in early 2025 and moved into her own apartment in an independent living community in east Orlando. There she enjoyed making new friends and participating in fun activities.
Carolee is preceded in death by her parents and her husband Ron.
She is survived by her four children: daughter Lisa “Leia”; daughter Sharon (David) Kull and their children, Tyler and Jamison; son Christopher (Annick Mottie), and his children Jessica and Chelsea, with their mother, Ola; and daughter Kimberly; sister Doreen (Robert) Snyder; and brother Robert Vogel. DeGusipe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy can be made by visiting degusipefuneralhome.com. A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 11:30 am in the Chapel, 5125 South Apopka Vineland Rd. Orlando, followed by a brief gathering in the hall. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Carolee Marie Vogel Kaba please visit our Sympathy Store.