Obituary of Catherine Carroll

Catherine F. (Welchlin) Carroll, one of the first 8 women to serve in the US Marines passed away after a brief illness at her home on Thursday morning, January 28, 2010. She was 87 years old. Catherine was born in Boston. She was the daughter of the late John and Anne (Fornier) Welchlin. Her mother passed away when she was just a child and at the age of 4 her father married Cathryn (Garry) who loving raised Catherine and her siblings. She grew up in the Mission Hill section of Boston and was a graduate of Mission Hill High School. In March of 1943 she enlisted in the US Marines to serve her country during WW II. She was in the first class of 8 women to serve in the United States Marines. She held the rank of Corporal. She was stationed in Washington D.C. and was responsible for the Marines Casualty reports. She was extremely proud of her service to her country and later continued her patriotism as member of the Marines Women’s Auxiliary and Women in the Military organizations. Catherine literally married the boy next door, John F. Carroll. They were married in 1951 and settled in Burlington in 1956. She had worked for almost 20 years as a quality control inspector for Instrumentation Labs in Lexington. She enjoyed her job and her coworkers. Catherine had a special bond with her daughter Cathie. She was a mother as well as a friend. She was Cathies Camp Fire Leader and she volunteered at her elementary school. She loved to go out to eat with her family and friends. She enjoyed vacationing in Vermont with her daughter at the Mountain Meadows Lodge in Killington and considered the staff part of her extended family. She loved to garden and nature. She was a talented poet and was an avid reader. She will be lovingly remembered. Catherine was the beloved wife of the late John F. Carroll. She was the loving mother of Catherine E. Carroll of Burlington. She was the sister of Lorraine Bishop of San Bernardino and the late Marie Dunne, Edith Ernest, and Francis Buddy, John, and Robert Gary Welchlin. Beloved Aunt of Sheila Broome of Roslindale and many nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Monday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Marys Church, 796 Boston Road, Billerica at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday 3-6 p.m. She will be buried next to husband at Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Burlington. Memorials in Catherines name may be made to VNA of Middlesex-East and Visiting Nurse Hospice, 607 North Ave., Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880.