Teacher, Loving Mother and Wife
October 18, 1946 - February 4, 2025
Carol Lynne Jefferson née Southwick, a classy woman of grace and wisdom, died peacefully on February 4, with her loving husband and daughters by her side. She fought a fierce battle with ovarian cancer. Her bravery was an inspiration.
She was a resident for 50 years in Montgomery Township, where the family has a street named after them.
Carol attended Trenton Junior and Trenton State College where she studied music and education. Before having children of her own, Carol gave her love to many little children as a kindergarten teacher at St. Hedwig’s School. She continued to delight in her love for teaching as a substitute teacher at Stuart Country Day School, where her daughters attended. Carol also taught piano for more than 50 years and thoroughly enjoyed the connections she made with her students and their families.
Carol, with her seemingly endless energy, was involved in many clubs and organizations including the Soroptimist Club of Princeton, the Princeton Dogwood Club, the PHCC Auxiliary, the Princeton Lioness club and St. Vincent DePaul at St. Paul’s Church. She was a former president of The Present Day Club, past fundraising chairman at Catholic Charities, program chairman at Plainsboro Senior Club, past board member of the Crawford House, a sustaining member of the Princeton Junior League and past Commodore of The Great Oak Yacht Club on the Chesapeake Bay. Carol cherished all the special friendships she made with her fellow members in all these clubs and organizations.
Carol published a children’s book, Beanie and the Dolphin, which she dedicated to her grandchildren. Carol loved to travel and saw a lot of the world thanks to her “do it while you can” attitude! She enjoyed her yearly winters in the Florida Key’s, years of boating fun on the Chesapeake Bay and summers spent at the Jersey Shore. Carol lived a full life and touched the lives of everybody she met. She had a kind and giving spirit, and a caring soul full of love she wasn’t afraid to share. She loved her family fiercely and nothing made her happier than spending time with her grandchildren, her daughters and their spouses, and her dear husband. Carol’s love shines a bright light wherever she is and that light will shine on from heaven.
Carol is survived by her incredibly loving husband of 54 years, Bruce; their daughters and their spouses, Tracy Jefferson Shore and her husband Peter, and Jill Jefferson-Miller and her husband David; Her grandchildren, Molly and Meredith Shore; her brother Bob Southwick of Boone, NC; her sister-in-law, Shirley Kreszl; her nephews Tom and Doug; her God daughter Nicole Schofer and many other relatives and friends who each helped make her life special. Carol believed that she was put on this earth to love people and that she did with all her heart.
A Mass of Christian burial was held at St. Paul’s Church in Princeton.
Memorial donations in Carol’s memory can be made to the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Office of Institutional Advancement, and 333 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111 or St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ 08542.
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