Caroline Frances (Chalmers) Chiacchia passed away peacefully at her home in Merrimack, NH on Monday, May 2, 2016. She was surrounded by her loving family and beloved dog, Serena. Caroline was born in Roxbury, MA, on August 31, 1935. She was the daughter of Virginia Flicker Chalmers Mandorff. Caroline was married to her husband, Donald F. Chiacchia (of Natick, MA), for 49 years before he passed away in November, 2005.
Caroline was a retired Registered Nurse, having graduated from the Burbank School of Nursing in Fitchburg, MA. She dedicated over 30 + years caring for others, with 25 of those years working at the Kathleen Daniels Nursing Home in Framingham MA, as an RN and then Nurse Supervisor.
Caroline loved to garden, take rides to the ocean and take walks with her dog, Serena. Caroline was an avid Patriots fan and was known to change the channel during games that were not going well for the Pats because she got so nervous. She enjoyed a lifetime of travel and adventured to many parts of the world, including Europe and the Middle East. Caroline and Don retired to Wesley Chapel, FL in October, 1999 and enjoyed several years of Florida sun and fun. Although these were passions of Caroline’s, her most treasured memories came from spending time with her four children and eleven grandchildren. She reveled in each ones’ accomplishments and shared their victories and heartaches equally. Caroline also enjoyed the events that brought her extended family together and loved to tell stories of the past.
Caroline is survived by her daughter, Cara (Chiacchia) Gannon and her husband Bob Gannon and their four boys, Liam, Corey, Conor and Sean (of Litchfield, NH), her daughter Candace M. Chiacchia (of Gloucester, MA), her son James W. Chiacchia and his wife Caitlin and their five children, Ben, Sam, Oliver, Luke and Charlotte (of Georgetown, TX) and her son Daniel P. Chiacchia and his wife Megan and their daughters Bella and Nili (of Fremont, NH), along with several nieces and nephews including William Clark and his wife Kathy of Natick, MA and Beverly (Clark) Petrie and her husband Glen of Mashpee, MA.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 9 St. Francis Way, Litchfield, NH 03052. Caroline’s children would like to thank extended family, friends and neighbors who offered so much in the way of support and comfort. A special offering of gratitude is extended to the amazing staff at the Elliot Cancer Center in Manchester, NH, including Dr. Brian Knab and his nurse Lisa Beernaert, the fantastic staff on the fifth floor of Elliot Hospital and the Manchester VNA Home Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. For more information, visit www.peabodyfuneralhome.com.