Carol M. (Cali) Kearns

Leominster ---Carol Marie (Cali) Kearns passed away on August 13, 2024 at the age of 87. Carol was born on March 7, 1937 in Fitchburg, MA and was the youngest daughter of Vito Cali and Mary (Spano) Cali.

Carol was predeceased by her husband of forty-five years, Brian Austin Kearns, also of Fitchburg, MA. She is survived by her two children; Brian V. Kearns and his wife Sherill Kearns of Honolulu, Hawaii and Karen A. McInnis and her husband Patrick McInnis of Ashburnham. She is also survived by her three granddaughters; Katlin McInnis, Meghan Garland and Kelly McInnis. Carol leaves behind her eldest sister, Virginia Blanchflower and was predeceased by her sister Joan Sasseville. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

In 1955 Carol graduated from Fitchburg High School and went on to graduate from Fitchburg State University in 1959 with a degree in teaching. Carol, a cheerleader and active participant in school clubs, and Brian, a football standout, were high school sweethearts. They married in 1959 when Brian returned from his service in the U.S. Navy.

After graduating from Fitchburg State, Carol began her teaching career at St. Anthony Elementary School in Fitchburg. The course of her career later led her to work in both the Fitchburg and Leominster school systems. Carol eventually turned her focus on educating adult students by instructing an Adult Basic Education/GED preparatory course. This gave rise to her one day becoming a board member of Adult Learning in the Fitchburg Area (ALFA) at Fitchburg State University.

During her free time Carol loved to volunteer as an usher at the New England Symphony Orchestra (formerly Thayer) in Leominster. A lifelong enthusiast of the arts, she enjoyed attending various productions, as well as cooking, puzzles and playing bridge with her friends. Carol was an enthusiastic traveler and seized many opportunities to experience new places, including traveling to Hawaii and Italy.

Carol`s funeral will be held on Tuesday, August 20th from the Richardson Funeral Home,106 West St., Leominster with a funeral Mass at 12:00pm in St. Anthony di Padua Parish, 84 Salem St., Fitchburg, where she and her family have been parishioners for generations. Burial will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery, Fitchburg, where she will be laid to rest with her loving husband and family. Calling hours in the funeral home will precede the funeral Mass from 9:30am- 11:30am. www.richardsonfuneralhome.net.

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