CAROL LEE CARLETON

CARLETON, Carol Lee October 11, 1924 - October 4, 2025, formerly of Wellesley, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home, on October 4, 2025, in Naples, Florida, closing the final chapter of a long and joyful life. Born on October 11, 1924, Carol, known affectionately as "Lee Lee" to her grandchildren, is remembered for her love for her family and exuberance for life. Carol was raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, and graduated from the Boston Children's Hospital School of Nursing in 1946. Carol was a pediatric nurse, and during World War II, she served proudly as a nurse at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod. Carol married Richard Palmer in 1948, and Carol and Richard raised five daughters in a lively household filled with joy, chaos and love. Carol was active in community life in Wellesley, including the Wellesley Garden Club, and she played both tennis and bridge with great skill. She was a stock market aficionado and successfully executed covered call options on stocks in her portfolio, before most investors even knew what they were. Carol was predeceased by her husband, Richard Palmer, in 1984. Subsequently, Carol and Charles Greenleaf (Green) Carleton enjoyed 15 wonderful years of marriage from 1989-2004 in Falmouth, Massachusetts and Naples, Florida. She was predeceased by Green; and by her siblings, Virginia Smith and Richard Lee. Carol is survived by her loving companion, Tom Pritchard, with whom she shared love, joy and laughter during the last ten years of her life. Carol's generosity expressed itself in many ways, including taking her entire growing clan on several trips and vacations. In recent years, Carol met all the challenges of being a super senior with uncomplaining fortitude and determination. She described each change her age brought her as an "inconvenience" and never lost her quick wit or her positive outlook on life. In addition to her loving companion, Tom, Carol leaves behind five devoted daughters and their husbands: Susan and David Littlefield, Christine and Tom Trayner, Betsy Palmer and Tom Reilly, Francie and Franklin Christopher, Vicki Chase and Tom Bradley; stepchildren, Deborah Dolan, Sarah Carleton Tobin, Peter Carleton and their spouses. Lee Lee was the beloved grandmother of 13 grandchildren and great-grandmother to 22. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the good fortune to know her. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Carol Lee Carleton may be sent to Naples Botanical Garden, Attn: Development, 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, FL 34112 or at Naplesgarden.org/support/donate/ A private interment will be held at a later date. Please visit www.fullernaples.com

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