Sister Ann Schiltz can’t remember a time when Carol Church was without rabbits.

“When you look around the house indoors and out there isn’t a place that doesn’t have a rabbit,” Schiltz said.

Her husband, Earl Church, said he had told his wife that maybe they didn’t need so many rabbits. But after she retired, the rabbits just kept multiplying and her collection now numbers more than 400.

Church, 66, died Thursday at her home after a three-year battle with cancer. Church tried to return some of the figurine rabbits from her collection, many of which were gifts, in the months before she died.

“I don’t think any of us wanted to take them back, but I took one back so I could remember her,” said Clanece Hills, a friend who had worked with Church at South Junior High School.

Friends, family and former co-workers remember Church for her love of teaching and animals.

She was one of the original faculty members at South Junior High and continued teaching there until 1993. While there, she taught physical education, coached various sports and served as the school’s athletic director. Many described her as dedicated and caring.

“Carol had a very special way of making people feel important,” said Denise Akins, friend and former South Junior High teacher. “She would take the girls in the gym class who normally did not get a lot of attention and make them feel important.”

Sarah Narcomey, a former student, said Church had had high standards for her students.

“She put a lot of trust into her students and you felt like you never wanted to break that trust,” said Narcomey, Lawrence. “You never wanted to let her down because she put so much faith and trust in you.”

Ron Garvin, South Junior High physical education teacher, taught with Church for 12 years.

“She expected her athletes to work very hard,” Garvin said. “She squeezed every bit of talent and sweat that she could get out of them. She was successful in molding young girls into fine women.”

Church expressed her love of animals through her support of the Lawrence Humane Society. Linda Watrak said Church had contributed more than just financially.

“Carol built up the morale of the staff,” said Watrak, bookkeeper at the humane society. “She was always there for any kind of need financial or spiritual. She made our jobs easier. She was the spirit of the humane society.”

Kelli Church said she was reminded of her mother-in-law wherever she went.

“I can’t go anywhere in Lawrence and write a check without people asking me if I am related to Carol,” she said. “In a town this big, everyone knew her. She was a great person and this is a great loss.”