LACONIA ---- Carole F. Kerr Veer, 87, died on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at her daughter's home in Laconia, NH with her family present.
She was born in Freeport, IL on September 14, 1936, to the late Alvin D. Kerr and Ida M. Wiley Kerr.
She was the widow of Harry G Veer, who retired from the Freeport (IL) Police Department in 1976. The two then moved to Laconia, NH. After Harry's second retirement they sold their home and traveled full time in their 33' fifth wheel seeing every state but Alaska. They enjoyed their time traveling and visited many friends spending winters in Arizona and Texas. Harry died on December 18, 2007, after 53 years of marriage. Carole spent the remainder of her years in Laconia, NH volunteering for various organizations including Make-A-Wish, CASA of New Hampshire, Capital Center for the Arts, the Laconia Police Department and many other organizations.
She supported the Isaiah 61 Cafe, providing breakfast and lunch daily to the cities under resources and the Belknap House providing families at risk a safe shelter and providing opportunities to become self-sufficient and independent. Every Christmas she made sure all residents had Christmas stockings including gifts for the children. She also supported New Beginnings, which is dedicated to providing refuge and support in response to sexual, domestic and stalking violence. Wherever she found a need her heart her pocketbook opened wide.
She enjoyed square dancing, clogging, reading, quilting, going to the ocean, scrap booking, embroidering, coloring, crossword puzzles, scrabble and tending to her many, many houseplants. She enjoyed weekly outings with her Friendship Club and being a member of the Red Hat Society. It was so fun when all the ladies would go out to dinner or conventions dressed to the nines in their red clothes and beautiful flamboyant red hats. They drew so much attention by their presence bringing finger pointing from children and smiles from adults.
Her greatest love by far was spending time with her daughters, 5 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. "Nanny and Pa" held a special place in their hearts and will always be remembered with great love.
Carole had three daughters, Theresa LaDieu of Concord, NH, Sheri Trebian of Pembroke, NH and Jeri Veer of Laconia, NH, with whom she resided. Carole had 2 sisters, Jo Ann Wright and Debra Sue Kerr (deceased) and 1 brother, Alvin J. Kerr, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude's, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, Shriner's Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104-2396 and/or to the Gary Sinise Foundation, PO Box 40726, Nashville, TN 37204.
A message from Carole to her children and grandchildren:
Learn to forgive quickly.
Treat your family with same consideration and respect you would a co-worker.
Don't hold a grudge or onto bad feelings. It takes away time from enjoying one another.
Love is action.
Words without action are empty.
Be slow to lose your temper. Most people are doing the best they can.
Show some grace.
Give of yourself. Do what you can, when you can.
Bless others at every opportunity.
Experience as much as you can in life.
The world is a beautiful place.
Be the person your dog thinks you are.
Most importantly: Cherish your family.
I repeat:
CHERISH ALL OF YOUR FAMILY.
Family is important and a blessing. It may not seem it at times but fight with all your might to maintain a bond. Accept one another's differences and allow them to have bad days.
Love unconditionally, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, grandmothers and great-grandmothers, husbands, dads and children.
Love each other unconditionally.
Just love.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246 is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.