Carole L. Gillette

1933 - 2022

Chelmsford

Carole L (Sargent) Gillette, of Chelmsford, MA, passed away on Saturday, February 5, 2022, after a lengthy, courageous battle with dementia. She was 88 years old.

Born in Lowell, MA on October 27, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Jean (Howard) Sargent and Leigh Sargent. Carole was a Girl Officer in the Lowell High School class of 1951. She married her high school sweetheart Daniel Gillette, with whom she shared 55 wonderful years until his death in 2012.

Carole was a woman of quiet elegance and grace whose talents were many and varied. She was a dedicated daughter, mother, and grandmother, and a loyal friend to many. Mom had a brilliant smile and was known for her classic, beautiful style. She was a shining example of strength, tenacity, humility, and the importance of a sense of humor. Hers was a life well lived.

As a young woman she was a counselor at Camp Massapoag in Dunstable, MA. It was there she found a love of swimming and teaching others to swim. Carole taught most of her nieces and nephews to swim as well and loved being in and near the water all her life.

Once she was married, Carole taught herself to cook and bake, becoming incredibly accomplished at both. She was famous for her hollandaise sauce, seafood newburg, quiches, lemon squares, and Christmas cookies – of which she baked thousands. But it was the chicken cutlets she made for many Boston College tailgates that earned her the moniker "Carole Cutlet".

Holidays were an especially wonderful time for our family, and Mom made every Christmas magical for her children and grandchildren. Beautiful decorations, yummy food, and music - Carole absolutely loved music. She sang in the choir at St Mary Church in Chelmsford for many years and she was an accomplished pianist. Our family and friends enjoyed many sing-alongs around the piano. For years "Grammy" organized a Christmas concert with her grandchildren. Bribing them with delicious cookies, she taught them to speak, sing, and perform in front of an audience.

While raising her children and keeping a beautiful home, Carole was also a licensed realtor in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and was Dan's right hand woman at Johnson Gillette Real Estate. She was a hard-working woman and an astute bookkeeper.

Carole and Dan performed in The Paint and Powder Club of Chelmsford, and they hosted many cast parties. She was also a long-time member and past president of The Chelmsford Garden Club, where her decorating, gardening, and flower-arranging skills were displayed on the Garden Club House Tour.

Once their children were grown, Carol and Dan began taking trips to Florida, eventually staying in Bonita Springs for many winters. In her later years, Carole also traveled to Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Spain.

Carole loved walking and being out in nature. She and her cocker spaniel Bluebelle were a fixture in their neighborhood. At the age of 63, she participated in a charity walk the entire length of the Boston Marathon. She played tennis and golf at Vesper Country Club for many years. She treasured her friends from these activities and kept in touch with many letters and cards.

When she had the occasion to sit down, Carole was a voracious reader and crossword puzzler. She was an accomplished seamstress, furniture upholsterer, and handy woman. She could wield a hand mixer, hammer, wrench, or staple gun with equal dexterity. She was truly a Renaissance woman.

Carole is survived by her four children: Donna Thoene and her husband Glenn of Nashua, NH; Daniel Gillette Jr and his wife Susan of Falmouth, MA; David Gillette and his wife Tanya of Trinity, FL; and Jennifer Paletta and her husband Todd of Chelmsford, MA.

Grammy will be forever beloved by her grandchildren: Kaitlyn Thoene, Douglas and his wife Alexis Smith- Thoene, Allison Gillette and her fiancé Blake Overlander, Daniel Gillette III, Robert Paletta, Jesse Paletta, and her step-grandchildren Kayla Nolet, Kevin Cole, and Ashley McGrory and her husband Jimmy; Carole is also survived by her sister Charlotte Treadwell and brother Brian Sargent and his wife Linda, and many nieces and nephews she cared for deeply.

She was also predeceased by her brothers Bill and Butch Sargent.

Services are private for the family. A celebration of Carole's life is planned for the Spring. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing to make a donation in Carole's name may do so to Lowell General Hospital's Behavioral Health Suite and mailed to Lowell General Hospital Philanthropy Office, 295 Varnum Ave., Lowell MA 01854 or www.lowellgeneral.org/memorialgift. Arrangements are by the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL – MA – (978) 458-8768.



View the online memorial for Carole L. Gillette