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Carnegie Mellon University

Caroline McWilliams Obituary

Caroline Margaret McWilliams Accomplished actress and director, passed away peacefully at her home in LA on February 11, 2010. Ms. McWilliams is survived by her loving son Sean Douglas of Los Angeles, sister Patti McWilliams (Marge Mount) and Norma Liedtke of San Francisco and Kelly-Jo Dvareckas (Jack) of Nashua, NH, nephews John Liedtke and Casey Dvareckas and niece Jill Dvareckas. Her parents, Dr. Joseph G. and Patti Dwelle McWilliams, predeceased her. Caroline grew up in Barrington, RI. She majored in drama at Carnegie Mellon University and at the Pasadena Playhouse. Her career included numerous feature television roles, starting with her breakthrough role as Janet Mason on Guiding Light and followed by starring roles on Soap, Benson, Nearly Departed, and Beverly Hills 90210. Broadway credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Rothschilds. Off-Broadway Caroline performed in productions for the NY Shakespeare Festival and American Shakespeare Festival. Film credits include Mermaids, White Water Summer and Highway Time. Caroline's director credits include Divorcons, Love Letters, The Making of 'n Justice, Chang and Eng, You Haven't Changed a Bit and Other Lies and benefit productions for ALS. Off-camera Caroline loved life and adventure, happiest spending time with family and friends while kayaking and hiking in New Hampshire, carving fresh tracks on the slopes, roller skating at the beach, body-surfing in the waves of Cape Cod and doing the bunny hop around the Chatham Bandstand. Memorial services are Saturday morning, 2/20, at St. Alban's Episcopal Church-Westwood (LA) and at a future date in New York. In lieu of flowers, please donate to: The Red Cross Haiti relief effort (www.redcross.org), Dana Farber Cancer Institute Multiple Myeloma Research Program (44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115), or The Actors Fund (212.221.7300).

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Feb. 20, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Caroline McWilliams

16 Entries

Gabriel

October 21, 2021

My beautiful actress you are my heart.

Sheila Brown

March 22, 2010

Dear Sean,
I was very saddened to hear about your mother. I had been calling her cell phone for a few weeks and all calls went directly to voicemail. That's when I knew something was wrong. I can't tell you how much purpose and pleasure it gave me to take care of her. During that time I got to know her pretty well. What an amazing woman she was! She will be greatly missed, however, her spirit lives on in you and Kelli and many other lives she has touched. God bless you and your family.
Caroline's nurse at Spaulding Hosp/Youville Hosp

Sheila Brown

March 22, 2010

It was a great pleasure taking care of Caroline and getting to know her. She was amazing woman. I will never forget her.

Carla Marshall

March 18, 2010

So sad to hear about Caroline. Something made me look her up to see what she was up to as I hadn't heard from her in years. I met her about 30 years ago when she stayed at an inn I worked at near her NH home and we were in touch off and on visited when she was in NH. As many of these notes say, she certainly was a very nice and talented and beautiful woman.

March 17, 2010

Caroline was, for several years, my "Janet Mason" on Guiding Light when I first joined that soap as "Ed Bauer" in 1969. She was a first-class true professional, and was characteristically generous to me as I broke into the terrifying daily routine of live television. Our work together was really quite good, so good that we even enjoyed it, and we set a high standard both for ourselves and for the show, for years to come, even after she left to go on to better things. I went to see her in Boccaccio and as "Maggie the Cat" on Broadway. She was excellent! She was also very funny in real life, and full of strong feelings on important social issues, which I admired in her very much indeed. She envied my having children, and I was delighted to learn that she later became a devoted mother. She was a gem of a woman, a fine human being, and I shall never forget her, and her smile. My very warm and affectionate condolences to her family and friends. I shall make a generous gift in her honor and memory to the Scholarships Program at the Episcopal Actors' Guild, which I served as its Executive Director for 12 years before my retirement last year. It was truly a privilege to share even a few years of her exemplary professional life. Caroline, may you rest in peace!

Mardi Bergen

March 3, 2010

Deepest sympathy goes to Patti and the Family and friends of this lovely lady.

Mardi Bergen, Indiana

Larry Lenihan

February 27, 2010

I remember her from Barrington High School. She was a classy lady then and throughout her life and I enjoyed seeing her in her various endeavours. My deepest sympathy to her family.

Maryann Byrne

February 25, 2010

Dear Patti and family:
I am so sorry for your loss. My RI family remembers all of the McWilliams family in Barrington including Carol and sends their love and sympathy. You and family are in our thoughts and prayers. Sincerely, Maryann

Kathy Lyons-George

February 23, 2010

My sincere condolences to Carolines family especially Norma, a classmate of mine at Barrington High School. Caroline will be missed.

February 22, 2010

So very sad. I am so sorry.

THE GENT

February 20, 2010

R. I. P.

Lisa Tischer

February 20, 2010

My deepest sympathy to all. My thoughts and prayers are with you today.

With love,

Lisa Meyer Tischer, Tom, Case and Candace

Ron and Margo Santoni

February 20, 2010

Carol's dying days reflected the way she lived--with spirit, love, courage. determination, openness, refusal to give up, devotion to family and gratitude for them, stoicism, concern for the suffering of others, patience with but curiosity about the unknown, an exemplary motherly dedication to her son, Sean, and an over-all vibrancy about life. As I've said many times, Caroline was
a genuine "profile in Courage", who affirmed life strenuously in spite of the negativities and vicissitudes that she sometimes confronted.
Margo (her cousin and godmother) and I had the privilege, at the very beginning of our courtship, of taking Caroline and her sisters to Newport Beach in R.I.--in her parents' car, of course--perhaps pretending that we were their parents--and testing our skills for dealing with our own 6 who were to come.
How can we ever forget or express sufficient gratitude for the life of one whose life was cut off too soon? We count it a blessing that we have shared her love for over 50 years.
May she repose in Peace and with the continuing blessings of the Source of Life!
LOVE and PEACE! and with gratitude for Caroline's graceful life .

Ron and Margo (Santoni)

Joanne (Martone) St.Angelo

February 20, 2010

I would like to extend my sincere sympathy on Caroline's passing. I was quite stunned when I heard the news. We were both members of the Class of 1962, Barrington High School. I remember how full of life she was at our 45th class reunion. She will be missed.

Charlie Rasmussen

February 20, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with you today, we are so sorry to hear of Carolyns passing.
Charlie and Sue Rasmussen

donna

February 20, 2010

oh my. what a shock. i did not know caroline personally but i remember her acting. she was a fantastic actress and a beautiful woman. my sympathy to her family.

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