Carolyn Fabien, 87, teacher and world traveler
Carolyn (Gola) Fabien, formerly of Chelmsford and Pocasset, Massachusetts, died on May 1, 2020 of
cancer in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
A member of the Silent Generation, Carolyn, aka Connie, was anything but. She was a cheerleader at
Gesu Catholic School in Miami, and a member of the Cotillion ballroom dance club at Florida State
University. She was an indefatigable Seminoles fan and a dedicated alumna, maintaining lifelong
friendships. Like her father before her, she was also a lifelong Yankees fan.
After college, Carolyn became a public-school teacher and at 25, married the boy next door, Mike
Fabien. They moved to Boston, where she taught at Bowen Elementary School in Newton, Mass. for the
next 30 years, respected and beloved by students and fellow teachers.
Sophia Fitzhugh, her colleague at Bowen, became her dearest friend. When they both retired from
teaching, Carolyn and Sophia travelled every spring to other countries, including France, England,
Holland, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, China, Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
Carolyn shared her love of travel with her grandchildren. She and her sister, Martha Ann Savard, took
each grandchild on trips to Europe.
Mike and Carolyn raised their two daughters in Chelmsford, Mass., and also owned a home in Pocasset
on Cape Cod. Both daughters’ weddings were organized by Carolyn and held at the waterfront home.
Mike and Carolyn moved to Palm Harbor in 1990 and then to Tarpon Springs in 2005.
A voracious reader, she was active in three book clubs simultaneously and played mahjong weekly. She
volunteered at Ruth Eckerd Hall and at FEAST, a food pantry in Palm Harbor, and was an active member
of the Palm Harbor Newcomers’ Club. She was a constant and outspoken presence at her
grandchildren’s baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball and ultimate frisbee games.
Carolyn had strong political opinions. As a young mother in the 1970s, she picketed grocery stores on
behalf of farmworkers, volunteered for liberal candidates, and was a charter subscriber to Ms.
Magazine. In 2016 at age 85, she participated in the Women’s March in Clearwater and was delighted
when a driver made a rude gesture at her. Until the election of 2016, she did not think that it was
possible to have a president worse than Richard Nixon.
In addition to her husband of 62 years and her sister, Martha Ann Savard, Carolyn is survived by her
cousin Dorene Michel; her daughters Kathleen Merino (Joseph Merino) and Rosemarie Fabien (Thomas
Normile); her grandchildren Nick, Carolyn and Grace Normile; Joey Merino (Julie Peterson), Lydia Guelho
(Daniel Guelho) and Emily Merino; and great-grandchildren Korben and Alexandria Merino and Charlie
Guehlo.
A celebration of her life will be held when the COVID-19 pandemic abates. In her memory and for the
sake of her grandchildren, Carolyn would ask friends and family to please vote Trump out of office.
We have heard nothing but wonderful words about Carolyn and know she will be deeply missed by family, friends and everyone whose life she touched. May she rest in peace.
Love, Lisa Zacharia and Gary Kuester
I’m all in. Love you Kathy trump out. Blessed your mom. xxoo
I am so lucky to have had her friendship. Always positive, determined & motivated. She was so proud of her family and supportive of her friends. She will be missed by many.
I am grateful for your friendship and have fond memories of all the times we shared!
Love you and so pleased to have you in my life.. will miss sending you postcards especially the UF cards and receiving your FSU postcards. You will always be a special special woman in my life and for that I am grateful. My vote will count Carolyn.. not to worry…
Our condolences. Connie and Mike were our next door neighbors in Palm Harbor. Connie is quite a lady and was an exceptional neighbor. May she RIP.
Carolyn will be greatly missed , I enjoyed her friendship and she enjoyed life to the fullest and she had a love for her family that was wonderful to see. My deepest sympathy to her family and all her friends.
Love Joanne Turbide
To Mike, Marty, Dorene, Kathleen, Rosemarie and all her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren we mourn the loss of such a special lady. Our hearts are broken, but as we reflect on her life we feel fortunate to have known and loved her. Connie was a mentor and like a “big sister” to my father who was also a teacher in Newton. My daughter Kelsey adored Connie, she was like an “honorary-bonus” grandmother to her. They shared a love of reading and travel. We will miss the holiday cards and email correspondence. We will miss her spunk, inquisitive conversations, and her kind and loving spirit. She was an inspiration to all of us and a reminder that one person can have an impact and make a difference in this world. In honor of her upcoming birthday, I will get a lobster roll at one of her favorite restaurants on Cape-The Lobster Trap! May we all cherish our memories of a wonderful lady and a life well lived. She will always be with us in spirit. And, here’s to three votes from the Cronin’s on Cape Cod!
Such a lovely and perfect description of Connie and her life! This is probably the first obituary that had me feeling so sad for her loss, but laughing at loud at the end!
Connie was a special part of my family. She car-pooled with my dad to school in Newton for many years, I can remember riding in the back of her station wagon on the days I went in with my dad. My parents stayed in contact with her after she retired, and when they both moved to FLA permanently. My sister’s family were so fortunate to live near her when they were stationed in FLA, they became close, and like family to my sister & niece. Thank you Connie for your positive contributions to our world & the people’s lives you have touched! I promise you I will do all I can to vote Trump out! I’m with her! Rest well Connie.
I met Carolyn at the Palm Harbor Library. She was part of the library book club. I volunteer at the check out desk and was always watching what Carolyn checked out of the library. I knew if she liked a book it would definitely be a book I needed to read.
She recommended a book to me that I consider one of the best books I have ever read, Gentleman in Moscow.
I will forever be grateful for that .
After reading about her life, I admire her even more.
I will miss her at the library.
I grew up in Newton, MA, and was a student at Bowen School from Nursery through 6th grade. I was a student of Mrs. Fabien’s in both 5th and 6th grade – Graduating Bowen in 1970. I was deeply saddened to learn of her passing. I extend my sincere condolences to her family, and particularly her daughter Rosemarie. Rosemarie, I don’t know if you remember me, but we were in Nursery and Kindergarten together at Bowen – and were quite friendly as small children.
Mts. Fabien was a wonderful teacher and person. I had my struggles as a child, and I felt she really ‘got me’. I know I was a handful, but she was compassionate, patient and she made me a better student and I wanted to become the person she saw I could be. As I continued on through junior high and high school, I stopped in at Bowen every once in a while to say hello and catch up.
What a beautiful tribute you have written to her – I know she’d appreciate it and it makes me happy to know that I share and admire her many sensibilities – particularly her political sensibility.
I’d love to know when her life celebration is scheduled- would love to honor her by attending if it is open to the public. I live in Los Angeles, but would happily travel to the East Coast for her.
I can be reached at hsg3582926@hotmail.com. Bless you all – sending love and light. God speed and safe travels, Carolyn Fabien. Congratulations on a life well-lived.
Harlan Green
I lived across the street from the Fabien family in Chelmsford. I was Lisa Brown then. I have amazing memories of my childhood on Derringer Road, many that include Mike,Connie, Rosemarie and Kathleen.
A particular memory of Mrs. Fabian stands out. I was probably 6 years old and my father bragged to Connie that I had learned to say grapefruit in French. Always the teacher, she told me if I could tell her how to say grapefruit in French she would give me a grapefruit. Pamplemousse! Every time I think of grapefruit I think of Mrs. Fabien. The world was a better place with her in it.
Oh. And I am happy to help vote the current occupant of the White House out. Helping to turn Texas Blue. My parents have both passed but would have been proud to help as well.
My deepest condolences to Mike, Rosemarie and Kathi.
To Mike, Rosemarie and Kathleen , my deepest condolences for your loss. Carolyn and I worked together at the Bowen for well over 20 years and we stayed life long friends ever since. I just found out about her passing this week and my heart broke . She used to tell me about her trips she had taken especially Italy . We have been exchanging family stories and pictures for years especially through the holidays . I have a picture of her and I with Sophia over my desk from when they came to visit me a few years back . She would always send me a birthday card from as far back as I can remember, she never forgot. I will treasure her friendship always . Mike, Rosemarie , Kathleen and families, please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you . We’ve lost a true angel . Carolyn, RIP . Until we meet again , Salute Paisan