Racine – Carla M. (nee, Lombardo) Gearen, 60, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, July 24, 2011. Carla was born in Racine on December 31, 1950 to Carl and Rose (nee, Petrach) Lombardo. She married Walter Gearen on November 17, 1991. Carla graduated from UW-Parkside with a Bachelor of Science Degree in business Administration and Psychology. Carla worked as a customer service manager for Piggly Wiggly for many years prior to her career as a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker. She was an avid shopper with a keen eye and a passion for fashion and art. Carla loved her family and spending time with her grandsons and her niece and nephew. Words cannot express how much she will be missed. Carla is survived by her loving husband, Walter Gearen; daughter, Angela (Jesse) Downs; grandsons, Noah Downs and Seth Downs; and her close cousin, Chuck (Rachel) Petrach who was affectionately known as her "little brother"; and her niece and nephew, Veronica Petrach and Ezekiel Petrach. Carla is also survived by other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents. A funeral service for Carla will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 7 p.m. A private family interment will take place at West Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 5 p.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Froedtert Memorial Hospital and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare for all of their compassionate care and a special thanks to Barb "Jelly Donut" Fries, Carla's lifelong friend and shopping companion who was there for us thru thick and thin. "They are not long, the days of wine and roses; out of a misty dream our path emerges for a while, then closes within a dream." - Ernest Dowson