Leominster – Carolyn Rose Marie (Dwyer) DeVany, caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, died peacefully at UMass Medical Center on Feb. 24, 2021 after a brief period of declining health. She was 78 years old.
Carolyn, also known to many as Carol or Pixie, an affectionate name given to her by her father for her petite stature, was a creative and beautiful woman who was known to always be dressed for the occasion and be put together.
She lived in Marlborough for over 30 years where she participated in numerous clubs and sang in the church choir. She later moved to Leominster.
Carolyn was a full-time mother to her two children, but also experimented with business ideas and real estate. She was very proud to have independently managed a multi-family investment property.
Although hampered by Macular Degeneration for most of her life she was an avid, passionate learner who took classes in painting, business, piano and most recently some of the Great Courses on DVD.
She enjoyed a good story and a laugh often “pulling your chains” while enjoying a competitive game of cribbage or just a cup of hot tea. She also loved shopping, train rides into Boston, and lunch with her close and devoted friends. A compassionate supporter of animals she especially loved horses and cats, and was known to take in strays on several occasions.
A big fan of the Patriots, Bruins, and her beloved Red Sox, she loved all things Boston, and had the accent to match. She especially loved telling the story of how her uncle took her to Fenway, and she got introduced to Ted Williams on the field as he gave her an exuberant “Hey, Red!”
The only thing Carolyn loved more than watching Boston sports was spending time with her family which was highlighted over the last few years with numerous trips to Seattle to visit her son, T.J. and his family, Kira, and Aidan, in their new home, and her annual Summer pilgrimage for lobster in Rockport overlooking motif #1 with her daughter, Cory, and grandchildren, Taylor, and James. Another of her favorite things was to visit Connecticut, and feast on special dinners made by her son-in-law, Doug, especially during the holidays.
Carolyn was born in 1942 in Waltham to her parents, the late Joseph and Helen Dwyer. She was predeceased by her two brothers, Stevie and Joey. As a graduate of St. Charles High School, she enjoyed numerous friendships that lasted throughout her lifetime.
Carolyn is survived by her two children and their spouses, Corinne D. Bowie and her husband Doug of Blomfield, Conn. and LCDR Thomas J. DeVany and his wife Kira of Bremerton, Wash. She is also survived and so proud of her grandchildren, Taylor Bowie, James Bowie and Aidan DeVany.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA. 22116-7023 or www.diabetes.org.
A private service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021.
