Carol Anne O'Donnell Leahy, beloved wife, sister, aunt, mother, and grandmother, died peacefully surrounded by members of her adoring family on January 26, 2022, in Hanover, NH after a brief illness. She was 78.

Carol was born in Baltimore, MD to Hubert and Loretto (Schmidt) O'Donnell on December 21, 1943. She was the oldest of four siblings and grew up in Yonkers, NY. She attended Sacred Heart Church and grammar school, and Elizabeth Seton High School. Happy childhood summers were spent swimming and playing tennis at the Amackassin Club.

Carol attended the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, NY, majoring in history. She then received a Master's degree from the Columbia University School of Library Service and worked as a librarian at the Yonkers Public Library. Upon becoming a mother, Carol devoted herself full-time to raising her children. When they were older she went back to school to earn another Master's degree, in Special Education, from Fordham University, and spent 28 years teaching at the Windward School in White Plains, NY.

Even more than her educational and professional accomplishments, Carol cherished her family. She married the love of her life, Frank, on March 18, 1967. Carol delighted in being a mother to her three children, Tim, Kevin, and Nancy. One of the greatest gifts she gave them was her encouragement to follow their interests, wherever they led. Over the course of her life, Carol taught her children the importance of family, faith, education, curiosity, and lifelong learning.

Carol and Frank raised their family in Chappaqua, NY, where their kids freely roamed the neighborhood, playing with other kids until Carol called them home for dinner. Summer vacations to Block Island created lifelong memories. Watching her own children become parents was an immense joy for Carol, and she treasured time with her six grandchildren. Carol enjoyed her retired life in Hanover with her husband, where she took advantage of Dartmouth's many offerings: lectures, sporting events, and musical performances at the "Hop." Carol also immersed herself in her faith and was an active parishioner at Saint Denis Catholic Church.

Carol was predeceased by her parents and by her brothers Jay and Mark. She is survived by Frank, her adoring husband of nearly 55 years; brother Matt and his wife Cathy of Seattle, WA; son Tim and his wife Erica of Huntington Beach, CA; son Kevin and his wife Angie of Decatur, GA; daughter Nancy and her husband Mac of Yarmouth, ME; beloved grandchildren, Emily Leahy, Grace Leahy, Dylan Leahy, Finn Leahy, Colin Martin, and Clara Martin, and numerous nieces and nephews. Carol's devotion and commitment to her family was an inspiration to all who witnessed it.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Carol's memory be made to Hearts Open to the World, an initiative of Saint Denis Catholic Church to support people in western Kenya: https://www.saintdenisparish.org/how-to-help.

Carol's family wishes to thank the staff of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and especially the Jack Byrne Center, for their compassionate care. The family also wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all those who have sent flowers, food, and expressions of love and support to help us in our grief.

Family and friends may visit 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022, at Rand-Wilson Funeral Home, 11½ School Street, Hanover, NH (facemasks are required). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at Saint Denis Catholic Church, 8 Sanborn Road, with interment to follow at Pine Knolls Cemetery, Hanover, NH. A celebration of Carol's life is planned for the summer when we may more safely gather outdoors.