Carol MacMenamin, 81

OBIT MacMenaminBeloved wife and mother, Carol MacMenamin, passed at the age of 81 Monday morning Sept. 23. She had been struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart conditions for several years. 

Carol was in the company of her loving husband John MacMenamin, and most helpful and adoring caregiver son, Jeff MacMenamin. John and Carol had just celebrated 50 years in their Elm Street home in July and their 59th wedding anniversary on Sept. 18. 

Daughter of the late Frederick and Gladys Rothing Crisfield, she was born at her family home in Ossining, N.Y. on leap day in 1932. Carol Dorothy Crisfield was the eighth of nine children. She was a graduate of Ossining High School. After graduation she worked as an administrative assistant for the medical office at Grand Central Station. She met her husband, John W. MacMenamin, when he was in the Army and had hurt his hand. He was having it treated by the doctor Carol worked for and after many attempts she agreed to go out with him. On their first date they met under the clock in Grand Central Station. The two fell in love and married in 1954. They wanted to raise their children in a more country setting and heard about a place in upstate New York and ventured north and found Granville, to be the most beautiful, peaceful place. They found a house with the same staircase as Carol’s family home where she was born and they moved their four children (soon to be five) into the house with the big porch on the corner of Elm and Norton Streets in 1963. Carol worked for 20 years in the Granville High School as secretary to three principals. She was a Cub Scout den mother when her boys were young and was also active with the Pember Library, Lioness Club and Garden Club. Always a home of laughter and fun, there was never a dull moment. She put up with a lot and loved us so much more.  

She is predeceased by her parents, a sister, Edythe Anderson, a brother, Frederick Crisfield Jr., several nephews and nieces, a great niece, great nephew, a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law.

Carol is survived by her husband John; sons Jeff, and John and his wife, Brenda; and daughters Jil and her husband, Pete Randall, Cathy and her husband, Gene Flakes, and Claire and her husband, Brandon Clark. Carol had a dozen grandchildren who all affectionately called her Grrma: KennyMac Leach, G. Michael Ynesta, John Daniel MacMenamin and his wife, Bethany, Juli and her husband, Ian Iles, Amy and Heather MacMenamin, Ryan, Jake and Josh Akeley, James, Colin and Sara Randall, as well as five great grandchildren: Gage, Torrey and Cara Ynesta, Evan and Alexia Iles. She also leaves behind four of her sisters: Gladys (Bimmy) Sinning, Elizabeth (Betty) and her husband, Paul (DeDe) Eberlein, Loraine(Rainy) Guston, and Vivian (Vivy) and her husband, Joseph (Joe) Rauschkolb; and two brothers Richard (Richie) Crisfield and his wife, Cathy, and  James Robert (Bobby) Crisfield; cousins, and countless nieces and nephews and their families. The love and support that comes from such a grand family (we call it our “Tribe”) is insurmountable and Carol Mac’s legacy leaves an enormous positive impact on us all and the town of Granville, which she adored.

Carol enjoyed completing the Post Star crossword puzzle every morning with her coffee, playing card games of pitch and gin rummy with John and close friends at the kitchen table. Her passions and talents included: reading, knitting, needle work, painting and gardening. And oh yes, she loved her Yankees!  She most enjoyed her home and family, and with her long retirement , it is wonderful to say that we believe she got to do everything that was important to her: living in Granville, enjoying the seasons, and being near the ones she loved. A family member recently referred to The Mac’s lifestyle as “Norman Rockwell-Like,” and that is what we pray for each and everyone. A life filled with beautiful wholesome memories we will all cherish for a lifetime.

Calling hours will be held at Robert M. King Funeral Home at 23 Church Street in Granville, NY on Friday, Sept. 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. Joseph Arockiasamy presiding. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Middle Granville.

One of Carol’s greatest joys in life was reading, so the family encourages us all to pick up a book and share it when done, volunteer at the library and that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Pember Library, 33 West Main Street in Granville, NY 12832 (518)642-2525 and we thank you for your love and dedication to this wonderful woman.