Carol Makara

Ledyard - Carol Makara passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2015.

Carol was born Feb. 27, 1943, to Howard G. Robinson Sr. and Ruth R. (Metzendorf) Robinson. She grew up with her family in Voluntown. She attended Riverside Grammer School and Griswold High School. Carol graduated high school and went on to attend college at Central Connecticut State College. She met her future husband, Benjamin Makara, and was married Feb. 19, 1966, at St. Thomas Church in Voluntown. She began teaching at Gales Ferry Elementary School in 1965. In 1966, she took leave of absence from teaching to raise a daughter, Cheryl, born March 14, 1967 and her son, John, born February 1968. She earned a master's degree in education from UCONN in 1967. She returned to teaching in 1972 at the former Poquotonnuck Elementary School in Preston. She led the gifted and talented program and created generations of avid readers with her love and guidance. Carol was committed to serving the Lord and became a lay minister at Our Lady of Lords Catholic Church in Gales Ferry. She taught the catechism for many years and followed her faith until He called her back to Him.

Carol became interested in technology and learned computer programming in the early 1980s. She transferred this knowledge into her curriculum at Preston Plains School. She began teaching students using the Apple II personal computer. Many of her former students became successful at computer programming and have expressed personal thanks for her teaching them when they were small children in her class. Carol completed her degree in data processing at Three Rivers Community Technical College, formerly known as Thames Valley Technical School in 1988. In 1989, she joined Three Rivers College as adjunct faculty and has taught adult technical classes there to this date. She became the Autocad technical administrator for the college and retained that title for many years. She worked in the commercial sector as a database designer from 1988 through 1992. Carol lost her husband Benjamin in 1996. She continued to work teaching until retiring from the Preston School System in 2010. She spent most of her time in retirement with her new partner, Stuart Brown of Ledyard, sharing their mutual love of ballroom dancing. Carol began training as a dancer with the Aurthur Murray Studios in Niantic. She followed her instructor, Brian Lawton, when he moved to Waterford Ballroom and continued to advance in her ability. Her favorite dance was swing. She achieved top awards in amateur competition. She began traveling and enjoying time with her family and helping her son with his computer consulting business. She grieved at Stu Brown's passing in February 2012 and rejoiced to see her son John and Jasmin marry April 12 this year.

Carol had many friends and led an inspirational life by overcoming personal loss and remaking herself in a better way. Her friends saw her age backwards and her energy seemed unstoppable. She was an advocate of healthy living, respect for others, and the love of life and sharing with her friends and family. No words can convey the loss felt by her family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl A. Whipple and husband, Rick, and granddaughter, Sophia Whipple of Colchester; and son, John Makara and wife, Jasmin, and her unborn grandchild of Chester.

All are invited at 10:30 a.m. Monday, for a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Lourdes, Gales Ferry, meeting directly at church. Burial will follow at Pachaug Cemetery, Griswold. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, at the Gagne-Piechowski Funeral Home, 490 Voluntown Road, Jewett City.

For online condolences please go to www.gagnepiechowski.com.