Caroline Elizabeth DeFrees

Caroline DeFrees-Beglen passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2023.

Caroline Elizabeth DeFrees was born in Oneida, New York, on March 18, 1942, the first child of Donald and Norma DeFrees. She quickly become a proud older sister to two brothers and two sisters: Jackson, Donna, Jonathan, and Annette. The five DeFrees children were often found running around the village of Chittenango with the other neighborhood kids, which was the beginning of many of Caroline's lifelong friendships.

After graduating from Chittenango High School in 1960, she attended Central City Business Institute and worked for several years as a secretary. In 1965, during the "Golden Age of Flying," she joined her sister Donna in Miami, Florida, and began her glamorous career as a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines. She continued making friends wherever her travels took her, and it wasn't long before she also became a doting Aunt to many nieces and nephews.

While visiting sister Donna and family in Cincinnati, she met the neighbor, Roger Thomas Beglen, and she married him in 1980. Caroline began splitting her time between Cincinnati, Ohio, where Roger and his sons lived, and Miami, Florida, where she still flew for Eastern Airlines. After retiring, Caroline and Roger moved from Cincinnati to Constableville, New York. Caroline worked as a teacher's aide from the early 1990s to the early 2000s in the South Lewis Central School District.

After Roger's death in 2005, Caroline moved from Constableville back to Chittenango, where she could once again be seen roaming the streets with some of the same friends from her childhood, as well as her brother Jon, who had also returned. Together, they frequently attended the First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango. Staying true to who she was, she continued to make new friends at the Whitelaw Presbyterian Church, where she was also active with the choir.

She was preceded in death by her husband Roger Thomas Beglen, sister Donna DeFrees Anderson (William), brothers Jonathan and Jackson (Linda), and nephew Stephen Powers. She is survived by sister Annette (Gary), many devoted friends, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Caroline's family wants to thank the caring staff at The Grand in Chittenango.

Funeral services were at 6 p.m. Friday, August 25, 2023 at the G.F. Zimmer Funeral Home, 702 Legion Drive, Chittenango. Calling hours were from 4-6 p.m. Friday prior to the service. Graveside services were at 10 a.m. Saturday in Earlville Cemetery, Earlville, NY.

Memorial contributions may be made to Whitelaw Presbyterian Church, 3085 Whitelaw Road, West Canastota, NY 13032.