*Click here to livestream the funeral on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 9:30am*
Mary R. Carroll (nee Richards), 86, peacefully passed away surrounded by love on October 2, 2024. A lifelong New Jersey resident, Mary was born in Morristown, NJ, to Charles and Eleanor (Behre) Richards and proudly referred to herself as a born and raised Morristownian. Mary attended Bayley Ellard High School (class of 1956) in Madison, NJ where she met lifelong friends and the love of her life, husband, Richard (Dick) Carroll. Upon graduating high school, she attended St. Michael’s School of Nursing in Newark for three years where she earned her certification as a Registered Nurse in 1959. She began her career immediately after at Morristown Memorial Hospital.
Mary and Dick married in 1961 and started their young family in Madison before settling in Chatham in 1967 where they raised their four children, Laura Days, Richard Paul Carroll, Theresa Carroll, and Eileen Ruggiero. An advocate for Catholic education, Mary sent all four children to St. Patrick School in Chatham where she was an active parent volunteer. Mary was devoted to her Roman Catholic faith and attended mass at St. Patrick Parish daily most of her life until she was physically unable to.
Although nursing was her first career, Mary stepped aside to lovingly raise and support her family as a devoted mother and wife. Mary was a talented artist where her skills and hobbies included reading, gardening, baking, photography, sewing, cross stitch, and painting. She shared the joy of her talents with her children and grandchildren where her gifts will continue to flourish. Mary loved the ocean and had many special memories of her time on Cape Cod and in Bethany Beach, Delaware. She was a true animal lover and enjoyed the companionship of all the animals in her life.
Mary is survived and loved by her children Laura Days, Paul Carroll and wife Joann, Theresa and wife, Regina, and Eileen Ruggiero and husband Ken – 8 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Charles Richards and wife Marilyn, Fredrick Richards and wife Loretta, Lillian McGlincy and husband Marty and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and their children.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband Richard, (2000) her parents Charles and Eleanor Richards, and Frank and Helen Carroll.