Carol Lee Pepi

Carol Lee (O'Hara) Pepi, 76, of Winthrop, Massachusetts, passed away on March 24, 2023, in her home, surrounded by family, following a brief illness. Family & friends are respectfully invited to attend a Funeral Mass on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 11:30am in St. Michael the Archangel Parish 320 Winthrop Street, Winthrop. Interment in Winthrop Belle Isle Cemetery and lunch reception at The Lodge of Elks to immediately follow.
Carol was born on November 20, 1946 in Boston to her late parents James E. O'Hara, Sr. & Dorothy M. (Breault) O'Hara. She was one of seven children raised & educated in East Boston and was an alumna of Fitton High School, Class of 1964. Carol studied Pastoral Ministry at Emanuel College, then later earned a Master of Education degree in Counseling Psychology at Cambridge College. She also attended Union Institute & University for Doctoral Studies in Social Psychology. Carol was a Professor and Department Chair of Human Services and Justice Studies at Cambridge College, for over 25 years and founded the first Juvenile Justice program in the country. She would often say she had the privilege of teaching the most wonderful adult students anywhere.
Carol was a life-long human rights activist and peacemaker, traveling to colleges, schools and professional conferences throughout the United States, Australia, and Washington D.C. to speak on topics of juvenile justice, prison reform, restorative justice and the abolition of the death penalty.
She is the beloved wife of Gerald A. Pepi of Winthrop, Loving mother of Jennifer R. D. Pepi and her husband the late Gregory Lewis of Winthrop, Rachel J. Williams & husband Walter A. of Brockton, Alicyn J. Thompson & husband Christopher L. of Winthrop & the late Joshua W.J. Pepi. The cherished & proud grandmother of Zoe, Joey, Michaela, Toni-Rae, Chelsea, Tory, Tess, & Layne & great grandmother of Masen. The dear sister of Leona M. Orlando & husband John of Revere, Patricia A. D'Addario & fiancé Joseph DiGenio of Newmarket, NH and the late Kevin P. O'Hara, Sr., Dorothy M. McGrath, Richard F. O'Hara & James E. O'Hara, Jr. Also lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to: Appalachian Prison Book Project P.O. Box 601, Morgantown, WV 26507. (See appalachianprisonbookproject.org)