Carole Ann Rexford

Carole Ann Rexford, age 85, a longtime resident of Ashburnham and Chelmsford, passed away peacefully at River Terrace Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Lancaster on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on December 21, 1940, and was the daughter of the late Joseph Jacobs from Spokane, WA and Catherine (Berry) Sakowich from Woburn, MA. At the age of 5, her mother married John Sakowich, who raised and supported her during her formative years.

Carole grew up in Jamaica Plain and moved to Woburn at around age 10. She was the eldest of five children, with three brothers and one sister, and learned at an early age the responsibilities of family life. Up until around age 7, she was raised in a strict Catholic household and learned all of the hymns in Latin, often recalling those early church experiences. She graduated from Woburn High School in 1958, proudly serving as a cheerleader during her high school years. Following graduation, she attended the X-Ray program at Northeastern University, beginning what would become a long and accomplished career in radiologic technology. Over several decades, Carole worked as a dedicated X-Ray technician at Choate Memorial Hospital in Woburn, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Concord Hillside Medical Associates, and Emerson Hospital in Concord. She ultimately retired from Emerson as a mammographer, a role she carried out with passion, professionalism, and a deep commitment to patient care.

In her youth, Carole cherished her carefree summers spent on Cape Cod with dear friends in her late teens and early twenties – memories she would recount with laughter and fond nostalgia throughout her life. In 1963, she married Joseph Rexford, and in 1967 they settled in Chelmsford where they raised their three children. After their divorce in 1977, she remained a long time Chelmsford resident until 2015, when she moved to Georgia to be with her son and his family. Five years later, she returned to Massachusetts, making her home with one of her daughters and her family. She had a passion for travel and found particular joy in time spent in the many beautiful areas of Maine, most notably in Kennebunkport, Kittery, Wells, and Bar Harbor. She especially loved traveling with her close cousins, embarking on adventures that often led to laughter, mischief, and “just enough trouble” to become the stories retold at many family gatherings. Throughout her life, she formed many lasting friendships that she held dear, maintaining those close bonds that meant the world to her.

Carole was an avid reader and a self-proclaimed history buff. She had a particular fascination with British royal history and could often be found immersed in books or documentaries about monarchs and historical eras that captured her imagination.

A devoted animal lover, she adored her granddogs and her own pets, most recently her beloved George, a Bichon Frise mix who brought her great joy and companionship for many years.

Carole is survived by her daughter Kristine Grimson and her husband Paul of Nashua, NH; her daughter Karen Rexford-Fuller and her husband Chris of Ashburnham; her son Kevin Rexford and his wife Laura of Woodstock, GA; her grandchildren Kat (Kokas) Rosalyn, Olivia Rexford, Juila Rexford, James Fuller, Dylan Fuller, and Olivia Fuller; her sister Nancy Park of Kissimmee, FL; her brother Robert Sakowich of Watertown, and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

She is predeceased by her brothers Richard Sakowich of Chelmsford and Paul Sakowich of CT.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026 from 4pm to 7pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen Street, CHELMSFORD. Her Funeral Service and interment will be held privately.

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Carole’s memory to the MSCPA Angell, 350 South Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130. Website: https://support.mspca.org/site/Donation2?df_id=20472&20472.donation=form1