Nashua, NH – Carlene M. Eneguess, 73, of Nashua, NH, passed away on July 13, 2021, at the St. Joseph Medical Center in Nashua. She was the devoted wife of 40 years to Thomas “Jack” J. Eneguess, until his passing in 2016.
Carlene was born and raised in Northborough, a daughter to the late Clifford and Margaret (Shay) Bailey. She studied at Worcester State College, earning her BS in Education in 1970. For 41 years Carlene was a beloved elementary teacher for the Hudson, NH Public Schools. She retired in 2013.
She leaves her brother, Shay Bailey and his wife Kate; her three nephews, Daniel, Matthew, and Timothy; and two sisters-in-law, Sister Joanne Eneguess of the Venerini Sisters of Worcester and Judith Eneguess of Ashland. Carlene was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Paul Eneguess.
A calling hour will be held on Monday, July 19, from 9:30-10:45 a.m., at Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main St., Northborough. A graveside service will follow at 11 a.m. in Howard Street Cemetery, Northborough.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donation in Carlene’s name may be made to the Human Society of Greater Nashua, 24 Ferry Rd., Nashua, NH 03064.
To share a memory or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.haysfuneralhome.com.
A Eulogy by a Friend and Co-Worker
My name is Hilary and I met Carlene in 1975. I was a new teacher in a Hudson NH elementary school, and Carlene had been teaching there a few years already, despite the fact that we were very close in age. I never thought at that time that she and I would still be close friends 46 years later. But I’m not surprised now and want to tell you why her friends like me, like Lois, Pat, Ann, Claire, who’s no longer with us, like Nannette and many others loved her so much.
Carlene was kind, generous, smart, adventurous, independent, humorous, and loving, everything you could want in a friend. She was kind to everyone and never spoke unkindly about people, even if she disagreed with them. She truly looked for the best in people and simply kept quiet if she couldn’t find it.
Carlene was generous of spirit and generous with gifts. She was always quick to help out a friend. Early on, she drove me to and from school for five years before we had a second car, refusing to take any money all that time. For many years she filled an extra bedroom in her home with prospective Christmas, birthday, anniversary, or just anytime gifts she bought for friends and family. I can’t tell you how many gift certificates to Dunkin Donuts and Kimball Farm I got over the year “just because”. The room with all the prospective gifts was also the “Christmas Room”, because, besides gifts, it contained some of her many, many, many Christmas decorations. The day after Thanksgiving, it seemed like dozens of animated trees, wreaths, and reindeer would go up around the house. Since they were all motion-activated, they would all start giving off their songs and jingles at one time, which was hilarious! My grandkids loved the magic!
Carlene was very intelligent, adventurous, and creative! She was a wonderful teacher and presented interesting and fun lessons to her third- and fourth-graders. I remember walking into her classroom one day, and Carlene called out to the students, “Show Mrs. K what an atom does”, and they immediately jumped out of their seats and started spinning. At other times, Carlene had a wading pool in the classroom and the universe hanging from the ceiling to demonstrate science lessons. So many students and their parents hoped for “Mrs. Eneguess” for third or fourth grade, it was sometimes difficult to divide the students into the three classes. In her early years, Carlene had some magnificent adventures, which only Lois will tell you about…maybe! In recent years she didn’t get out a lot but followed the news carefully and was always ready to discuss the latest happenings in the country and around the world. We had some great conversations around her kitchen table, a cup of coffee in hand.
Carlene had a wonderful, self-deprecating sense of humor. She faced serious medical issues, and, while they often understandably got her down, she often tried to find the humor in sometimes stressful situations; I believe in order to make it easier for her friends and family. However, her strong desire to be independent and not a burden on her family and friends sometimes made it difficult for them, especially Shay. Believe it or not, sometimes even Carlene could be stubborn, and probably no one knew that better than Shay and Kate.
But, oh, how Carlene loved her family! She took care of her beloved husband Jack throughout his long illness and doted on all the dogs she and Jack had during their long marriage. Her Boston Terriers Jenny and Bailey brought her much joy as things became more difficult for Carlene. Shay and Kate and her nephews Matt, Tim, and Dan and their families meant the world to her, and they all gave her tremendous support, particularly in these latter years. The love between Carlene and her brother was just so obvious, even when they butted heads.
So, Carlene, thank you from all your friends who loved you so much. Thank you for sharing all the wonderful and silly and even sad and difficult times with us. We will miss you so much. We loved you and felt loved by you.
There will never be another one like you.
