| Notes |
Valley News, West Lebanon, New Hampshire, Sunday, 12 June 2022
Carolin Barker Bassett
Lebanon, NH ? Carolin Barker Bassett, 89, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 30, 2022 at the loving and compassionate Jack Byrne Center in Lebanon, NH.
She was born Carolin Mildred Barker on January 5, 1933 in Massachusetts, daughter of Mildred (Register) and Frank Loriston Barker. When she was a young girl, her family moved to Lebanon, NH where she walked to the elementary school holding her big brother's hand. They lived across the street from the Bassett family whose son, Bob, would one day become Carolin's loving husband. The Barker family moved one more time to live in Post Mills, VT where Carolin attended high school and graduated from Thetford Academy with the class of 1951. She received her nursing diploma in 1954 from Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington and began a lifetime career in nursing that included training in new cardiac techniques with Dr. Michael DeBakey in Houston, Texas. Her years of nursing at MHMH included giving comforting late night backrubs, her favorite moments in nursing. During the move of Mary Hitchcock Hospital, Carolin rode in the last ambulance to transfer patients from the old facility to the new location in Lebanon. She told of seeing the first death and the first birth in the new hospital before her retirement.
On September 23, 1967, Carolin married Robert (Bob) Bassett, that young boy who had lived nearby when her family resided in Lebanon. Carolin and Bob made their home in Lebanon for the entirety of their marriage and after Bob's passing, she continued to live there "aging in place". She and Bob enjoyed skiing, biking, hiking and traveling together and they made many lifelong friends doing both. Luke, their beautiful golden retriever, was an important member of their family. So important, in fact, that upon Luke's passing, Bob bought a stuffed "golden" puppy and lovingly sewed a slipper into its mouth as a Christmas gift to Carolin. This gift occupied a special spot in her dining room to greet all who came through. Carolin delighted in having friends and family come to dinner. She could put together the most color coordinated dinners in the Upper Valley and took great time in preparing them. A tradition Carolin and Bob carried out for many years was serving Thanksgiving dinner at the local soup kitchen. Although they had no children, their many nieces and nephews were "their kids". They both treasured time with family, teaching several of those nieces and nephews the joy of skiing, taking great nieces and nephews to summer theatrical productions and promoting occasional school skipping to go skiing for the day!
Carolin's church family at the First Congregational Church in Lebanon was also very important to her. In addition to worship services, she was involved in helping with the beautiful presentation of refreshments during church occasions, taking great care to make everything special down to the linens and serving dishes, and was known for having everything "just so." She was a devoted member of the choir and deeply loved singing. In her last days, members of the choir came to sing to her at the Jack Byrne Center. Members of her family were fortunate enough to be present to witness, and be embraced by, the gift of comfort and peace they brought to her.
Carolin was predeceased by her husband Bob, sister Beverly Pasch, brother Gregory Barker and brother Frank Barker and his wife Emily. She is survived by her brother John (Jack) Barker and his wife Betsy of California, her brother-in-law Bill Pasch of Florida, her sister-in-law Marsha Barker of Rutland, VT and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Trish Heatherton who became family during years of sharing time, interests, food and celebrations. Memorial services will take place during Carolin's favorite time of year in September.
In the last months of her life, Carolin was touched to find so many kind and supportive people in her life. She told us she was amazed to end her life so grateful to the people around her and feeling such acceptance and peace. She hoped everyone could have that feeling. If you wish to make a donation, please do so in Carolin's name to: Visiting Nurse and Hospice for VT and NH, PO Box 881 Brattleboro, VT 05302.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1933 - 2022 (89 years)