Carolyn N. Calorio

Carolyn N. Calorio, 81 years old, a recent resident of Chelmsford, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 29, 2024 surrounded by her loving family.

Carolyn was born in Boston on July 4, 1942, and was the daughter of the late John and Caroline (Accardi) Calorio. She was the older sister of Jim Calorio of Malden and the late Teri (Calorio) OConnor of North Reading. Carolyn grew up in the close-knit section of Mount Auburn in Cambridge where she had many friends and was surrounded by extended family.

Carolyn graduated from Cambridge High and Latin School. She married Thomas V. Flaherty, also of Cambridge, had five children and later divorced. Carolyn started her professional career when her children got older. First, driving a school bus with her younger son in tow and then eventually settling into a career as an executive administrative assistant for several companies, where she was able to put her interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills to good use.

Carolyn had a strong community of friends throughout the course of her life. The longest lasting group of friends were the women she met growing up in Cambridge. These women shared their experiences as young adults, wives, mothers and grandmothers. They called themselves club and would gather to share happy moments, to support each other through difficult times, to laugh and to eat. These women were a constant presence in her life. In addition to these friends, Carolyn also made many close friends throughout her life including the parents of her childrens friends, neighbors, work colleagues, people that she met dancing and the people that she met during her time at The Villages in Florida, among many others.

Carolyn enjoyed music, dancing, playing cards, going to the beach and baking. Her dancing skills were honed early in her life when she would jitterbug in the living room with her father and sister, so much so that they wore a hole in the living room rug. In later years, Carolyn would always have music playing whenever she cleaned the house. She enjoyed going out to dance with friends through the years. Carolyn was raised in a family that enjoyed playing cards, an activity that she passed along to her children and grandchildren. Carolyn enjoyed a variety of card games including bridge, cribbage and pinochle. Playing cards was something that she continued to do well into her later years. Carolyns love of the beach began when she was young. Her parents would pile the three kids into the back of a truck and head to Revere Beach to spend the day. As a mother, she took her own children to the beach, packing peanut butter and jelly, tuna and meatball sandwiches to sustain them through their dawn to dusk beach days. Spending time at the beach continued with her grandchildren. She loved watching them swim, shiver from the cold and go back in to swim some more. Carolyn also loved baking. When family and friends gathered to celebrate important occasions, Carolyn would always bring one of her specialtiesapple pies, Italian cookies, whoopie pies or one of many others-- to mark the occasion.

Carolyn was happiest when she was with her family, extended family and friends. She leaves her son Tom Flaherty-Dawson and his wife, Patricia of Westford, her daughter Kerry Petrosillo and her husband Jerry of Billerica, her late son, Sean Flaherty, her son Brian Flaherty and his wife Ana of Chelmsford, and her son Patrick Flaherty of Littleton. In addition, Carolyn leaves her grandchildren, Ali, Marco, Kayla, Haley, PJ, Shannon, Matthew, Gabriella, Danny and her great grandson, Parker. She also leaves nieces, nephews, cousins and an extended community of family and friends.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, from 3 6 pm at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Her funeral services and interment will be held privately. Memorial donations may be made in Carolyns name to Boston Childrens Hospital Trust at giving.childrenshospital.org.

Service Details
Visitation
When
July 2, 2024 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Location
Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home
Address
24 Worthen Street
Chelmsford, MA 01824