Marlborough – Carole DiTommaso, born Carole Ann Harpin on May 21, 1938, passed peacefully into the deep silence of the morning on Feb. 9, 2013, as Mother Nature covered us all with a pure white blanket of snow. She died at the age of 74, after being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer twelve years ago. Her carefree attitude and gracious demeanor is what kept her in our company for the past decade as she waged her silent war, endured her weekly treatments and resolved herself to fear nothing.
Carole was one of four daughters to Raymond and Marjorie Harpin, her three sisters being Nancy, Dorothy and Debra. She also has a forth sister, Barbara, daughter to Raymond. Carole graduated from Marlborough High School in 1955. She then worked as a telephone operator for New England Telephone and Telegraph until she married David R. DiTommaso in May of 1959.
Carole and Dave (her husband who died in 2006, also at the age of 74) lived in Marlborough their entire lives and raised three children: Blaise (52), Mark (48) and Beth (44). They have six grandchildren: Nicolas (21) and Nathaniel (20), sons to Darlene and Blaise DiTommaso of Boylston; Gianna (20) and Jesse (17), daughter and son to Lori LaPlante and Mark DiTommaso of Charlton; as well as Raymond (15) and Anna (13), son and daughter to Beth and Wayne Dexter of Winchendon.
Carole's motherly instincts were strong in her as she was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother and aunt. She was fiercely independent. She liked to laugh, to talk, to dance and do crossword puzzles. And she actually enjoyed cleaning her own house. She was fortunate to have attended her 57th Class Reunion this past September, which was all she talked about for two months after.
Carole is an inspiration to her family and friends. Though stricken with a terminal disease, suffering through many surgeries, weekly treatments, numerous needles and tests, she opted to do whatever she needed to do, as she always did, with a courageous attitude. Many will miss her frankness, her fanciful facial expressions, her “finger” and her fun-loving faithfulness. And many, many more will miss her oatmeal chocolate-chip cookies and her banana bread.
Carole's children want to personally mention a few people, as their individual kindness to their mother did not go unnoticed. Dick MacIver, her brother-in-law, who was always there for her in a moment's notice. Donna and Audrey, the volunteers who drove her to her weekly treatments. Kathy and Cheryl, for always calling to check in on her.? Wayne, her son-in-law, who treated her like his own mother. And Lauren, her niece, who had a unique and special relationship with her Poopie.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the Jimmy Fund. They also ask that if anyone can volunteer time for the many cancer patients and charities, that those acts of kindness will be so greatly appreciated by the families.
Calling hours are Friday, Feb. 15, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the William R. Short & Son Funeral Home, 95 West Main St., Marlborough. The funeral service is Saturday, Feb. 16, at 9 a.m., at the Immaculate Conception Church, 11 Prospect St., Marlborough.
