AUBURN/DUDLEY – Carol Leona (Morris) Reardon, 90, formerly of Dudley, died Wednesday, October 19, 2016 in the Life Care Center of Auburn. Her husband of 41 years, Richard P. Reardon, died in 1993.
She leaves her 3 daughters, Catherine Nalewajk of Webster, Gail Alden and her husband Ron of Charlton, and Jennifer Speed and her husband Derek of Westborough. Grandma will be missed by James Nalewajk, Jessica (Nalewajk) Bilodeau and her husband Brad, Michael and Maria Alden and their children Cecilia and Zachary, Steven and Susie Alden and their daughter Emily, Timothy and Heather Alden and their son Nicholas, and Katherine Speed, Megan Speed and Susannah Speed. She also leaves her sister, Jean Laws and her husband Keith and her sister-in –law Nancy Adams (whom she helped raise) and her husband John, all of WA; another sister-in-law, Mary Dowd Reardon of CA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her daughter Maureen A. Reardon, by her granddaughter Amanda Speed, by her sister Margery Stafford , by her brother Robert Morris, by his wife Patricia Morris, and by her brother-in-law, Peter Reardon.
She was born in Portland, OR, and raised in College Place and Walla Walla, WA, a daughter of S.O. “Bud” Morris and Jessie (Mickey) Morris. She graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1944 and earned her B. A. in Journalism from Washington State College, Pullman, WA, graduating 8th in her class in 1948. As a civilian, she served as an education officer in the US Army of the Occupation in Japan for 3 years. After her marriage, she was a child welfare social worker for the State of Washington. She and her husband moved to Dudley in 1960. She had lived in Auburn since last year.
Mrs. Reardon was the Director of Volunteer Services at Harrington Memorial Hospital in Southbridge for 22 years. She retired in 1988.
She was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Dudley. She served on the Open & Affirming Study Committee and on the Pastoral Relations Committee. She attended Bible study sessions. She belonged to the Ladies Benevolent Society and had served as its secretary. She was also a member of the Black Tavern Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Massachusetts and National Societies of Mayflower Descendants. She was an active member and past president of the American Association of University Women. She was a volunteer at Webster-
Dudley Food Share, Inc. for many years.
Carol was an adventurous traveler. She and Dick made several cross-country drives, as well as multiple trips to Ireland and Canada, and in 1993 visited Walt Disney World with the whole family. In 2000, she attended the passion play in Oberammergau, Germany. At age 72, she achieved her lifelong dream of dancing on the Great Wall of China. With her sister Jean, she also travelled to Miami, Savannah, and England and the Netherlands. All in all, her family was her treasure.
We were so blessed to have such wonderful, loving parents as Carol and Dick. Their children and grandchildren will love and miss them always and will try to do what Carol always said: “Be nice!” The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Eddy Pond and the Life Care Center of Auburn for their kindness and compassion to both Carol and her family.
The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, November 2, at the First Congregational Church of Dudley, 135 Center Road. The family will receive relatives and friends from 9:00 to 10:00 AM November 2 in the church. Following a collation in Jacobs Hall, burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Donations in her memory may be made to either First Congregational Church of Dudley, 135 Center Road, Dudley, MA 01571 or to Webster-Dudley Food Share, Inc., c/o United Church of Christ Federated, 4 Church St., Webster, Ma 01570. Arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School St., Webster.