Obituary of Carol Anne Beebe

Bolton Landing: On May 6th, 2021, Carol Anne Lynch Beebe passed peacefully into heaven surrounded by her family at her Little Brown Jug cottage in Bolton Landing. Carol was born in Albany, New York on August 10th, 1947, the daughter of Edmund T. Lynch and Katherine Dishaw Lynch. Carol attended the Milne School in Albany and then went on to St. Lawrence University. She spent her summers on the shores of Lake George at what is now known as the Rainbow Beach Association. The Lake became a favorite place and is also where she met her husband Robert, whom she married in June of 1967. The following August, Carol and Robert took up residence in Washington D.C., and a year later, the couple was blessed with the birth of their first child, Michelle. While Robert attended Georgetown Law School, Carol balanced the challenges of motherhood while continuing her education at night at the University of Maryland at College Park. After graduation, the family moved to New York, and, in 1969, Carol gave birth to their second child, Matthew. In 1972, Clifton Park became their permanent home. Carol and Robert’s 53-year marriage was one of mutual love and devotion in which they continuously supported each other in all of their endeavors. Carol continued to pursue her education while working nights and weekends as the head bridal consultant at the Linen Chest in Latham. Her persistence and hard work culminated in 1977 with her graduation from the State University of New York at Albany with a B.A. in English. From that day forward, she assumed the role of chief of the “grammar police.” She never missed an opportunity, solicited or not, to make sure her family was practicing the King’s English. In 1990, Carol volunteered to work as a data collector for the Federal census, ending each day by reviewing her records at the Saratoga Springs McDonalds, which she dubbed her “McOffice.” Soon after concluding her census duties, Carol accepted a part-time position as the Executive Director of the New York School Food Service Association. Given her diligence and enthusiasm, the part time job soon became a full-time position. During her 24 years of service, Carol traveled throughout the State and country representing the organization and advocating for childhood nutrition. She took great but quiet pride in her many accomplishments. Notwithstanding the demands of her career, Carol’s life was anchored by her faith. As a parishioner of St. Edward the Confessor in Clifton Park, Carol never missed weekly mass, at which she often served as a lector and eucharistic minister. When traveling, the first order of business was to locate the Catholic church and determine the mass schedule. She embraced her local church community and made everyone feel that they were part of her family, including strangers in need of a holiday dinner. Carol’s children, Michelle Mylod (Jim) and Matthew Beebe (Julie) could depend on the presence of their mother at every school and community event, including numerous musical performances and sporting contests. Ever the proud parent, not only did Carol cheer on her own children but every other member of the team as well. With the birth of her grandchildren, Carol became “Mem”, and her favorite times were those spent with her “Memlings”, Gabriella, Madeline, Maxwell, and Jacob. She was enormously proud of her Memlings’ accomplishments as they obtained their education and moved into the workforce. Carol learned to cook from Robert’s mother, Evelyn. She and Evelyn developed a special bond, the cornerstone of which was the kitchen. She loved to try new dishes and still has stacks and boxes of recipes that she was planning to showcase. She hosted family dinner every Thursday - an event not to be missed. Holidays presented yet another opportunity to bring the family together, and Carol was certain to do whatever was necessary to ensure not only a festive occasion, but an opportunity to nurture the bond and love within her family, and of course, correct their grammar. Carol’s passion for cooking and entertaining is shared by her children and will remain as part of her legacy. Carol was an active and social person. She loved to play tennis and was a regular on the RBA tennis courts. Her cheering and laughter can still be heard down Rainbow Beach Road. She especially loved playing with her family, as well as with her girlfriends in the USTA. The ladies even reached the regional final of the national tournament one year. Carol was an exceptional bridge player and thoroughly enjoyed a full evening of playing cards with friends and family. She and Robert were a formidable pair at the bridge table and they taught their children the tricks of the trade. Carol’s most recent project was teaching her daughter-in-law, Julie, to be her protege. On a number of occasions, Carol and Robert traveled together with friends and family visiting the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Italy, England, Spain, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Aruba. More recently, Carol and Robert loved spending the month of March in Naples, Florida, where they would sit on the beach, reading and tackling their daily crossword puzzles. Evenings were spent dining and socializing with their friends and family, who delighted in visiting. No matter the location, Carol’s adventures were always filled with her laughter and singing. She once joined Mary Wilson on stage in Las Vegas in a rousing rendition of a Supremes’ classic. While Carol immensely enjoyed all of her travels and experiences, her favorite place always remained Lake George. Carol’s interest and genuine caring for other people invariably drew both new acquaintances and old friends to her. She was intensely interested in what people were doing in their lives and listened intently to every detail. She was a sounding board and confidant for all of the friends brought home by her Memlings over the years, along with nieces and nephews of the extended family. With her vibrant personality and infectious spirit, Carol made an instant and powerful impression on everyone she met. She was truly a “force of nature.” The sudden and deadly onset of the illness has taken this beautiful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend far too soon. While we grieve so deeply, we know that she is now in the care of her Lord and never far from those she loved here on Earth. In addition to her husband, children, and grandchildren, Carol is survived by her brother, Thomas Lynch, and her cousins, Janet Hellmann and James Lynch. Funeral services will be private with a celebration of life to be held later this summer. Per Carol’s wishes, donations may be made to the Lake George Association in her memory. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guestbook and condolences.