Wilma Frances (Meagher) Carpenter, age 86, of Burlington, VT, formerly of Easton and West Dennis, MA, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 21, 2022, at The Converse Home, in Burlington, VT. She was the wife of the late Dr. Howard F. Carpenter, Jr.
Born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on October 31, 1935, to the late William F. and Catherine (Murphy) Meagher.
Wilma had fond memories of growing up on Blodgett Avenue with her brother Bill. Wilma was a graduate of St Mary Academy-Bay View. She earned a BA in Education at Salve Regina University.
Wilma taught in Arlington and Braintree, MA early in her career. With the arrival of her children, she put her career on pause. In 1980 Wilma returned to teaching at Ursuline Academy in Dedham, MA. She taught there for over twenty years. Wilma was an avid reader, great cook, and host. Her extended family and friends have wonderful memories of her hosting the holidays and opening her home on the Cape. Wilma was very proud of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Wilma is survived by her children, Kathryn Rose and her husband James of Essex, VT, Tracy O’Brien and her husband Thomas of Denver, CO, and Howard “Skip” Carpenter and his wife Melanie, of Arvada, CO; a brother, William Meagher and his wife Ellen of Needham; sister-in-law, Anne McKenna of Eastham; grandchildren, Nick and his wife Molly Rose, Libby and Arnd Sievers, Mitch and Tess O’Brien, and Emma, Ali, and James Carpenter; and her great grandchildren, Izzy and Sebastian Sievers. Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by sisters-in-law, Mary Crockett, and Patricia Meagher.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Wilma’s family on Friday, October 28, 2022, from 10:30 to 10:55 am, at Holy Cross Church, 225 Purchase Street, Easton, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. A reception will immediately follow the services. Her committal service and interment will be for immediate family at a later date. Wilma will be buried in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Avenue, Bourne.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Ursuline Academy, 85 Lowder Street, Dedham, MA, www.ursulineacademy.net.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at the Converse Home. Their time and devotion to Wilma over the past six and a half years cannot be measured. The family would also like to thank the caring staff at Bayada Hospice for their support.