Carol Ann Gregoire of Tonto Verde, Arizona, passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on Christmas Day, December 25, 2020, surrounded by her beloved children.
Carol was born on June 12, 1934, in Portland, Oregon. She was the youngest of six children born to Morrison Albert and Caroline (Manning) Conway. Carol grew up in Portland and summered at her family beach house in Gearhart, Oregon. She attended Holy Child Academy and Marylhurst College where she received a B.A. in Education and a Minor in Music.
Carol was an accomplished soprano singer and pianist. She was active in her high school and college theatre programs and held leading parts in school operettas.
In 1957, Carol married Jerry Gregoire and they moved to the Seattle, Washington, area where she worked as a schoolteacher for kindergarten and first grade students.
In 1967, they moved to Wilton, Connecticut, where they raised their four children.
Carol used her musical talents and stayed active as a member of the choir at her church, Our Lady of Fatima. She was the co-director of the Children’s Choir in the early 1970’s, a member of the adult choir, and the Cantor for Sunday Mass.
Carol also became active with the Wilton Playshop and performed in musicals such as Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Mikado,” Rogers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma” and Irving Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun,” to name just a few.
In the 1990’s, Carol was the Cantor of the choir at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Stamford, Conn., and on Christmas Eve, she would sing at the Midnight Mass. She loved to sing, had a beautiful soprano voice, and performed at many weddings, funerals and nursing homes.
In 1998, Carol and Jerry moved to Arizona and settled into Tonto Verde. She enjoyed golfing, playing cards, cooking, entertaining, traveling and singing for the Rio Verde Community Church choir as one of their Cantors.
In 2005, Carol began singing duets with her granddaughter Meaghan at Easter Mass.
Carol loved golf and was an active member at Tonto Verde Golf Club. She was a competitive player and in 2015, at the age of 81, her team won the TVWGA-4 Member Club Championship.
Carol enjoyed her summers in Port Jefferson on Long Island with her daughter Jan and her husband Bob and at the family beach house in Oregon with her children and grandchildren.
Carol will be remembered as always having a smile on her face, a great zest for life and a song to sing!
Carol was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Jerry, as well as her brother Morrie Conway II and three sisters – Carita Corti, Ruth Hoard and Connie Ewing.
She is survived by her remaining sibling, Sr. Caroline (Aileen) Conway as well as her four children: Jan Coughlan (Bob) of Port Jefferson; Mark Gregoire (Freddi) of Sandy Hook, Conn.; Denise O’Hearn (Tierney) of Wilton, Conn., and Joe Gregoire (Tracy) of Warwick; her seven grandchildren: Kelley (Stephen), Brianna (Randall), Evan (Katie), Meaghan (Christian), Christian, Kimberly (Kevin) and Constantine; and her three great grandchildren: Tripp, Adelaide and Ava; and many nieces and nephews.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, a private Catholic funeral was held on Dec. 29th at Infant Jesus Church in Port Jefferson.
A “Celebration of Life” is being planned for a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable donation to: Hope House Ministries, P.O. Box 358, Port Jefferson, NY 11777.