Carolyn Cadwallader

1914 - 2017

Carolyn Keyes Cadwallader died on January 1, 2017. She was born in 1914 in Orange, NJ, and lived in Maplewood, NJ, where she graduated from Columbia High School. It was at Swarthmore College where she graduated in 1936 that she met and fell in love with a classmate, T. Sidney Cadwallader II. They were married in 1938 at Prospect Presbyterian Church in Maplewood, NJ, and first resided in Langhorne, PA, where she became active in various community organizations, a practice that was to continue the rest of her life. Early civic engagement activities included Yardley Friends Meeting where she had become a member shortly after her marriage, Junior Civic Club, the Yardley Library, Fairfield Terrace Tract Association, and the League of Women Voters. She served as Secretary of the George School Committee for many years. She held many positions in Yardley Friends Meeting and was known for her spiritually-grounded vocal ministry. In more recent years, she was active in the United Nations Association of Bucks County, Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, and the US Committee for the Abolishment of Land Mines. Her loyalty to her alma mater, Swarthmore College, never flagged and she served her class as Secretary for many years. Carol was adored by her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as she was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was never intrusive but always took a deep interest in their lives. In so many ways she was the glue that held the family together. Summers would find Carol presiding at the family’s second home in Wallingford, VT where there were cookouts to hold on the picnic hill, art galleries to visit, and friends to welcome with warm and gracious hospitality. She is predeceased by her husband, T. Sidney Cadwallader II, and her daughter, Carolyn Bannerman and grandson, David Bannerman. She is survived by her children and spouses: Leonard and wife, Mary Ann (Hanover, NH) ,Thomas and wife Katherine (Yardley, PA), Elizabeth Cadwallader and husband Terry (Newtown, PA), her son-in-law, William Bannerman and wife Chris (Rutland, VT), eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Carol’s passion for books was rivaled only by her love affair with current events. The New York Times was always at her elbow and her uncanny ability to recall the smallest of details of many headline stories amazed everyone who knew her. She informed the interests of those around her. Her personal library was filled with many first edition and autographed books that she collected over her lifetime by visiting second hand bookstores and attending antiquarian book fairs. A remembrance of Carol would not be complete without mentioning her love of all things chocolate. Carol loved to travel and has a passport to prove it. Overseas trips to Australia, Mexico, Guatemala, Europe, the British Isles and Greece were interspersed with multiple trips across the United States. To Carolyn, travel was an opportunity to learn. As a lifelong student, she would be sure to visit every museum to learn more about the local culture and lore. Many will remember her steadfast commitment to the American Cancer Society that was manifest in the Remembrance Daffodils that would appear in profusion around the retirement community where she and Sid lived for twenty-five years. Memorial services will be held on February 25th at 1 PM at Yardley Friends Meeting and on March 25th at 10 AM at Pennswood Village (Penn Hall) . In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Friends Service Committee 160 N. 15th St. Philadelphia, PA 19102, or to the charity of your choice.