Obituary of Donna M Carroll

Donna M. Carroll, passed away at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, New Hampshire, following a year long battle with cancer.  Donna was 55 years old.  Donna was born in Winchester. She was raised and educated in Stoneham and a 1983 graduate of Stoneham High School.  

She worked as a Customer Service Rep at Agfa Co. in Wilmington for over 23 years.  Donna raised her two children, Robert, and Jessica, in Wilmington.  She was a wonderful mother and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her children.  She was so proud and happy to see both of her children married and create wonderful lives for themselves.   As a family they enjoyed vacations in North Conway when the children were younger and in later years they took trips to Canada, Virginia, Florida, and several cruises. Donna had a close relationship with her brothers, Charles and Matthew and her sister, Diane. She had a tight bond with her dad, Charlie.  Donna was blessed to have a supportive family that was an important part of her life.

Donna was an athletic woman. She enjoyed roller blading, swimming, jogging, and working out at the local gym.  Donna was a talented and creative knitter.  She made scarfs, blankets, mittens, and all kinds of wonderful crafts. Donna had a close circle of friends that were an important part of her life.  They got together every Sunday to watch the Patriots, enjoyed boating at the Chelsea Yacht Club or spending time together.  

Donna had a strong and positive spirit. She never let her illness get her down.  Donna had been anxiously awaiting the birth of her first grandchild due this October.  Donna will be remembered for her outgoing personality, beautiful smile, and infectious laughter.  

Donna was the beloved mother of Robert Harrington & his wife Kathryn of Nashua, NH and Jessica Murray & her husband Richard of Londonderry, NH.  She was the loving daughter of Charles Carroll of Stoneham and the late Anne Szabo-Carroll. Stepdaughter of Judy Carroll of Stoneham.  Sister of Diane Barry of Billerica, Charles Carroll, Jr. & his wife Julie of Woburn and the late Matthew Carroll.  Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Thursday, August 26 from 12 – 2pm.  Concluding with funeral services at 2pm. The family respectfully requests everyone attending the wake and/or funeral please wear a mask.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Donna’s name may be made to Home Health & Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054 www.hhhc.org

Family Remembranc by Jessica:

When I think about how to describe my mom and her life many things come to mind. She was the strongest person and always had a positive outlook on life all the way until her passing. She had an outgoing personality, beautiful smile, and infectious laughter. 

As a mother, she always did everything she could for us and was always there. She made sure we had everything we needed growing up. She also instilled values of respect, faith, family, and love. She would tell us we could do anything we wanted and to never settle. She wanted nothing but the best for my brother and I. She had recently said as my brother Bobby and I got older we were her greatest accomplishments in life and if she didn’t get anything else right she knew she had gotten it right with us.  

One of my mom’s favorite things to do was knitting. She was always making something from blankets to scarves. I would always joke with her that she had a problem with all the yarn she had. She had so much yarn that when we moved into our house in New Hampshire she had her own room for it. I remember a time in particular she told me she was going to make me a scarf to match a new jacket I had gotten and she said it would take no time to make. She had a habit of starting one project and going on to another project. She started making my scarf 4 years ago and it had been an ongoing joke I had with her when I would see her knitting something else I would ask where my scarf was. Her response was I had a problem when I was making it and it is currently in yarn vomit and she had  to untangle it. We would always laugh about and she said she would get to it. 

My mom also liked to spend time with her family and friends. Growing up we enjoyed many memorable family vacations together. From the trips to North Conway with the entire family at Sky Valley, to the vacations with Diane’s family to Niagara Falls and Bush Gardens in Virginia - my mom really enjoyed those memories she made with her family.

My mom also loved to hang out with her friends. She loved going to the Chelsea yacht club to go boating for the day. She would also enjoy going to local restaurants and listen to live bands with the gang. And she was always excited to get together with her friends for all the Sunday Patriots game gatherings. My mom really cherished all the good times they had together.

I would like to share a poem by Howard Simon that I think fits my mom:

The low lands call

I am tempted to answer

They are offering me a free dwelling

Without having to conquer

The massive mountain makes it move

Beckoning me to ascend 

A much more difficult path 

To get up the slippery bend

I cannot choose both 

I have a choice to make 

I must be wise 

This will determine my fate

I choose, I choose the mountain 

With all its stress and strain 

Because only my climbing

Can I rise above the pain

I choose the mountain 

And I will never stop climbing

I choose the mountain

And I shall forever be ascending

I choose the mountain

We will miss you Mom,  you were truly a one of a kind. I love you from the bottom of my heart. Rest in the sweetest peace until we meet again.

Thanks,

Jessica