Carol Ann Morse, the daughter of Frederick S. Morse and Ruth A. Murphy, was born at the Boston Lying-In Hospital in Boston, MA on August 11, 1943. Carol lived in Cambridge with her parents until they all moved to 26 Golden Ave, Arlington, MA.
Carol graduated from Mt. Trinity Academy in Watertown, MA and from Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with a degree in English Education. Carol taught English at Watertown High School for two years. In 1966, Carol married John Callaghan, Jr. (deceased) at St. Camillus Church in Arlington on June 25, 1966 with a wedding reception at Oakley Country Club in Watertown, MA. In June 1967, Carol gave birth to her first child, Cathleen Theresa, and the next month the family moved to Claymont, DE. In 1968, they moved into a new home at 2806 Rickdale Rd, Talleybrook, Wilmington, DE. A son, Christopher Edward, was born in 1969, and another daughter, Colleen Michelle, was born in 1974. Carol was fortunate to be able to stay home when her children were young, helping out at their schools and serving as PTA president for Hanby Jr High, and producing the Booster News for Concord High School. Later she worked for her husband’s company, Callaghan Associates, Inc., as bookkeeper/office manager. She also worked part-time for the Interfaith Resource Center in the same capacity for ten years.
Carol had a variety of interests and hobbies. Reading was always a passion, and for many years Carol did a lot of needlework, including making baby afghans for all nine grandchildren. Gardening was another passion leading Carol to join Garden Gate Garden Club and later Brandywine Garden Club, the Delaware African Violet and Gesneriad Society, and to become a Flower Show Judge, an African Violet Judge and Gesneriad Judge. Carol enjoyed growing roses in the yard and African violets, gesneriads and orchids in the house. Another interest was genealogy, which led her to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, first as a student and then as a teacher of genealogy classes.
Carol and John were able to travel to Ireland, England, Scotland and Germany, parts of Canada, and many places in the United States. Since John was an avid golfer, Carol and the children all learned to play golf at Concord Country Club, and Carol and John played golf for many years both in the US and in Ireland. Carol was a loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother.
Carol was married to her late husband John for over 50 years and is survived by her children Cathy Griffin (Tom), Chris Callaghan (Stephanie), Colleen Scanlan (Dave), her 9 grandchildren Colleen and Bridget Griffin, Caitlin, Riley, Shannon and Brendan Callaghan, Griffin, Aidan and Brenna Scanlan, her sister Ava Juwa (Greg), her niece and nephew Tara Salvietti (Dave) and Bryan Juwa (Lindsey), and Ava and Greg’s grandchildren Audra, Kaden, Brogan and Makenna Salvietti and Taylor and Evie Juwa.
A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Wednesday, April 30 at 10 am at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 7 Sharpley Rd., Wilmington, DE 19803 with inurnment to follow at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery. The family will greet friends at a luncheon following the burial.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Carol’s name to WE Tree Boston Inc and mailed to 6 Whittier Place, 5M, Boston, MA 02114.
