Mrs. Carol Ann Febbraro Gnyp's Obituary
To view the livestream of Mrs. Gnyp's funeral service, click here.
Our world became so much less vibrant and colorful with the earthly departure of the singular Carol Ann Febbraro Gnyp of Hendersonville, Tennessee, on Thursday, December 9, 2021. Our treasure was tenderly serenaded into the next stop on her journey lovingly surrounded by some of her most treasured. Our matriarch, touchstone, and Queen Bee, Carol set the bar on what it was to be a daughter, aunt, wife, mother, role model, mentor, and friend. Marked for extraordinary from day one, our very own Christmas Carol made a remarkable entrance in great company on December 25, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York. Due to the hospital’s proximity, she loved to say that she was “born under the Brooklyn Bridge” to the late Nicola Febbraro and Bella Slapo Febbraro, as the 5th of 5 girls to join their close-knit Italian and Jewish families.
The embodiment of the Greatest Generation, yet still unique to the core, she bore the hallmarks of the time and place she was from, while still developing her own signature style. Of the countless descriptors that come to mind, here are a few that typify her youth that carried on into adulthood and multiplied: Fearless. Confident. Talented. Razor-sharp wit. Snappy dresser. Cool. As she blossomed, add ebullient, great conversationalist, humble, generous, wise, empathetic, and kind.
Favorite parts of her Brooklyn upbringing included big Sunday dinners with aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. Getting off the subway after school, and heading straight to the pushcart for a knish and a black-and-white. Making an art of people watching with her friends by milling around the stoop, daring each other to talk to the boys passing by. And this is how she met her beloved husband of 41 years, Andrew Gnyp, Sr. At the time a junior at the Brooklyn High School for Homemaking, Class of ’59, she was challenged to get the square, clean-cut boy in the college sweater coming down the sidewalk to ask for her number. Their exchange was a snarky one, and she was so surprised when he still asked for her number that she even gave him the real one, expecting him not to remember her rapid recitation. He remembered, and together they forged their own intrepid and beautiful path, and wrote an extraordinary story that continues to add chapters. They never missed an opportunity to reflect with marvel and the most humble gratitude on all of the remarkable things “two poor kids from Brooklyn” accomplished.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Andy, and sisters Regina, Marion, Genevieve, and Linda Febbraro. We can only imagine the beautiful family harmony the sisters are singing together.
Her legacy continues on through her children, Nadine (Ronald) Simons, Andrew (Alene) Gnyp, Jr., Steven Gnyp, Gregory (Kristie) Gnyp, and Tamara Gnyp; continuing the chain of love with grandchildren Tanya (Chris) McPherson, Alexander (Alicia) Krumenacher, Anastasia Gnyp, Adam Gnyp, Peter Gnyp, Sasha Gnyp, Steven Gnyp, and Matthew Gnyp; and feathering her cap with great-grandchildren Bella & Jack McPherson, Silas & Layla Krumenacher, and Trenton Gnyp. She leaves behind a host of family and her chosen family - her darling, cherished friends.
With a presence that could fill an auditorium, she was an entertainer, entrepreneur, clever, forward-thinker, an original influencer, encouraging force, and supporter of creativity and unique ventures. Her family picked up the business torch that she and Andy lit and have kept the flame alive, with many having gone into their own businesses, with her being the loudest cheerleader and most fervent believer. Most recently, she was the number one fan and backbone of Blossom & Cellar Door Craft Cavern, and the precious La La Lounge in Hendersonville. These businesses are forever imbued with her shared vision, constant support, feedback, and pure love. She can be felt so strongly there. Other facets of her lingering legacy live on in the countless number of people and projects she believed in and championed for. After a lifetime of service and support to family, friends, and anyone in need, she continued to be quick with a quip, a smile, and endless optimism and words of encouragement. She was ever a favorite of the doctors and nurses she encountered during the last year-and-a-half during her valiant, graceful battle with lung cancer. Always radiant and light-hearted with a never-ending supply of wisdom and experience to share and inspire with, she is so fondly remembered and loved by so many. She continues to inspire goodness in the wake of her huge presence. These are impossible shoes to fill (or rather, cozy Uggs with "bling" the last couple of years), but her imprint is indelible on our hearts and minds. We’re all so much the better for being fortunate enough to be a part of her tribe.
An entertainer through-and-through, she was a naturally gifted soulful torch singer and avid music aficionado. You’ll continue to hear her all over the Great American Songbook. She was born to sing and came from a long line of Italian musicians. Also blessed with the gift of gab, she never met a stranger and embodied generosity in all forms, and freely gave the most precious gifts: her time and full attention. She lived for spirited conversations and enriching experiences. Movies and plays were high on her list of favorite things, and she had a knack for sussing out the best movies and shows, handily putting Siskel & Ebert to shame. You need only call her voicemail and listen to her message to corroborate her love of movies, pop culture, people, and humor. So many things were close to her heart: music, art, theatre, food, travel, family, friends, humble service, philanthropy. Her humanity always took front and center. A passionate patron of the arts, she and Andy exposed their kids to all the things they loved so much, and always donated generously so that these life-enriching things were accessible for all to appreciate and enhance. She so often said that heaven is a place where you get to do what you were meant to do, and she was meant to sing. After a lifetime of service, it’s now time for our very own Funny Girl to take center stage.
She was the life of the party and always threw the very best ones. We will do our best to channel her sheer joie de vivre this week by gathering, eating, drinking, and reminiscing in her honor. We will dim the stage lights of our hearts for her and celebrate a life so very well lived at Spring Hill Funeral Home in Nashville. Visitation will be on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 from 4:00-8:00 PM, with a bit of music and hors d’oeuvres to accompany our time together. Her Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, December 16 at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. The family will host visitors two hours prior to the funeral. Directly following her service (with dear friends Pastors Murphy Gill & Rick Quinn officiating), her earthly remains will join her darling Andy’s in the Historic Spring Hill Cemetery.
To honor and perpetuate the legacy of our one-and-only Christmas Carol, we ask that you “be an angel” and be empathetic, generous, patient, and kind every day. As any of us that knew her well can safely say, when you heard that phrase, you couldn’t say no. Let her inspire us all to be more love.
Carol, there will never, ever be another you.
Arrangements entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home & Historic Cemetery, 5110 Gallatin Road, Nashville, TN 37216. “Where Nashville Comes to Remember.”
What’s your fondest memory of Carol?
What’s a lesson you learned from Carol?
Share a story where Carol's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Carol you’ll never forget.
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