Carol Pianin Gottesman 1942-2026

She was born March 30, 1942, to Harold Pianin and Esther Levy Pianin in Youngstown.

Carol was a lifelong student of spiritual beliefs, whether from ancient wisdom traditions such as Judaism or more contemporary ideas in new age philosophy. Along with her second husband, Cantor Ernest Moshe Gottesman, Carol studied the Kabbalistic writings of the Zohar. In other phases of her life, Carol was easily found studying the works of Barbara Marx Hubbard or Ram Das, for example.

Carol graduated from Warren G. Harding High School, the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in nursing and Kent State University with an M.Ed. Beyond the traditional educational institutions, Carol was also certified in numerous holistic health techniques such as Touch for Health and Pranic Healing, working with energy systems in the body to heal various ailments.

Of the accomplishments in her life, Carol was incredibly satisfied to have been a professor at the Trumbull Memorial School of Nursing. In the early 1970s, she was asked to create and teach the psychiatric program as part of a larger training curriculum and then subsequently taught the course for approximately the next 25 years.

Carol believed in the essence of life, the soul that is really who we are, transcending death. She was known for saying, “Life is for lessons learned and the evolution of the soul.”

During her life, Carol had three meaningful relationships. The first was with Richard Ginzler, her first husband and father of her son. They were married June 16, 1963, and divorced in the summer of 1971. She remarried again Jan. 23, 1983, to Cantor Ernest Moshe Gottesman, and they remained married until his death on June 13, 1995. Carol spent the last 26 years of her life in a devoted friendship with Cynthia Tatalovich.

Carol is survived by a son, Dr. Joshua Aaron Ginzler (Jennifer Melsher), who followed her professional interests to become a psychologist; as well as three grandchildren, Leo, Reef and Eliana. Carol is also survived by her brother, Richard Pianin (Marlys); and her sister, Ann DeHovitz (Ross).

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Esther and Harold, as well as a third sibling, Mark Pianin.

Funeral services for Carol will begin 11 a.m. Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Lane Funeral Homes, Roberts-Clark Chapel, 180 Garfield Drive NE, Warren.

Burial will take place in Beth Israel Cemetery, Warren.

Family and friends may send their heartfelt condolences by visiting www.lanefuneralhomes.com.

(special notice)