Carol Walsh

Carol Susanne (Kenna) Walsh, 89, of Oxford and formerly of Hopkinton, passed away after a brief illness on Jan. 10, 2025, at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester with her daughters by her side. Carol was born in Concord on Jan. 9, 1936, the daughter of John B. and Marjorie (Hutchinson) Kenna and lived in Hopkinton most of her life until moving to Oxford in November of 2017.

Carol is survived by her three daughters, Karen Myhaver and husband Danny of Oxford, Maureen Wright and husband Kevin of Halfmoon, New York, and Lisa Galipeau and husband Brian of Warner, New Hampshire; eight grandchildren who made her incredibly proud, Brandan (partner Shana), Luke (partner Margaret), Naomi (spouse Matthew), Dana M. (spouse Heather), Shannon (spouse Jonathon), Dana W., Jason and Jenna; eight great-grandchildren who she truly enjoyed; her sister and only sibling, Lois Tripodi; special cousin Jean Hayward; Kathy and Ann Marie, her companions who filled her days with puzzles, glamorous nails, game shows and ice cream and kept her happy and safe at home for the last seven years; and many wonderful friends, nieces and nephews who were very special to her. She graduated from Hopkinton High School, Chandler Business School and Framingham State Teachers College. She went on to teach second grade for the Natick school system and substitute teach for Hopkinton at the elementary level.

After raising her family, Carol became the children’s librarian and then library director for the Hopkinton Public Library before retiring in 2005. She volunteered at the Hopkinton Senior Center as a front desk receptionist and oversaw the “library room.” She served on the Building Committee for the public library expansion and the Council on Aging and volunteered during town elections. She was an honorary member of “The Golden Girls” known for pitch playing, socializing and the occasional gathering at Cornell’s. She enjoyed reading books, her pets, watching crime TV shows, a good cup of tea with dessert, and spending time with her beloved family.

There will be a service on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Chesmore Funeral Home, 57 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton, at 1 p.m., followed by a 1:30 p.m. celebration of life. Refreshments will be served. The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Memorial Hospital Critical Care Unit staff who treated Carol and her family with such kindness, care and respect. Memorial donations may be made to the Friends of the Hopkinton Public Library, (hopkintonlibraryfriends.org/donate) or the Hopkinton Senior Center, 28 Mayhew Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748.

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