DOVER: Carol Clayton DeFusco, age 66, a longtime Dover resident, died suddenly on Sunday night, July 14, 2013. She was the devoted wife of Robert L. DeFusco for 36 years.
Born and raised in Providence, she was a daughter of the late James E. and Alice (Dooriss) Clayton. She was a 1965 graduate of Saint Patrick High School and continued her education at Salve Regina College, later Salve Regina University. While matriculating, Carol entered her Novitiate with the Order of the Sisters of Mercy and was later professed. While a sister, she spent much of her time working with children with special needs. She left the Order in 1970 and taught briefly in Central Falls, prior to becoming the Title 4B Coordinator for the RI Department of Education. She concurrently earned her Master of Library Science Degree at the University of Rhode Island.
Carol and Bob were married on June 4,1977, and lived in Falmouth, Maine, until they made Dover their home in 1983. As her children were growing, Carol was very active with teaching religious education at Most Precious Blood Church, and stayed involved with their many activities. She returned to teaching part time as a substitute with the Sherborn School District until 1990, when Carol accepted a full time position at the Pine Hill School. She quickly made herself at home as the school’s media specialist and relished her time working with all of the school’s students over the course of each week. Passionate in her approach, “Mrs. D.” liked to be as colorful as possible and added her own brand of flair to brighten the learning experience of her students. The creator of many costumes, Carol enjoyed dressing up on special occasions, particularly as “Albuquerque Turkey” at Thanksgiving time. She retired with a large and memorable party in 2010.
Carol was a great fan of the Red Sox, making use of season tickets whenever possible. She and Bob literally travelled the world and often visited Bob’s relatives in Italy. Although she was not much of a cook when she married, being surrounded by the talents in Bob’s family, she soon became not only proficient, but over the years magnificent in the kitchen. She loved to entertain: whether her extended family or business associates of Bob’s, she was happy to receive them with grace and plenty to eat. Fitting with her personality, she also opened her home to any number of friends, often providing them room to host an event or as a place to come and grieve among friends after a funeral. Perhaps her greatest joy of all has been the opportunity she and Bob have had to care for their grandchildren on weekdays for the last several years.
She is survived by Bob; their three children, Jaclyn DeFusco Green and her husband Brian, Stephen DeFusco, and Jennifer DeFusco, all of Norfolk; grandchildren Kylie and Ryan Green; her sister, Marilyn Carroll of Providence; sister-in-law, Roberta DeMarco and her husband Dennis of Cranston, RI; brother-in-law, William DeFusco and his wife Toniann of Cranston, RI; nephews Louis and John DeFusco; and many devoted friends.
Her funeral will be from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, Natick, Saturday, July 20th at 9:15a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Edward the Confessor Church, 133 Spring Street, Medfield, at 10:30a.m.
Burial will be at Saint Ann Cemetery, 73 Church Street, Cranston, RI, at 12:45p.m.
Visiting hours will be at the funeral home Friday 4 – 8p.m.
Donations may be made in Carol’s memory to The American Heart Association, 20 Speen Street, Natick, MA 01701.