She was born Carolyn Jane McDonell on June 9, 1921 in Newark, NJ, & almost made it to her 100th, passing quietly at MAYO's McGraw Hospice on December 18, 2020...
The only child of Carolyn Jane 'Carrie' & Charles Harold 'Mac' McDonell, the Great Depression hit when she was only 8. She quite literally witnessed "The Grapes of Wrath" as her parents took to the open road in their Model A Ford ~ driving from job to job, where her bed was the top of blankets with a pillow, on the trunk of their possessions on the back seat...
They eventually settled in Decatur, IL, where she graduated from HS & attended Business College...
Shortly after working at Woolworth's and, when WWII struck, as the Executive Secretary to the Director at the local Ordinance Plant, she enlisted in 'This Man's Army" where she served on the General Staff of Military Intelligence at the newly built Pentagon... It was here that she was offered a contract with RKO & met, then married, Ralph L. McAfee ~ an Officer newly transferred in from The China Burma India Theater ~ But not until after giving Hollywood a whirl for 3 months...
There, as with the fanciest 'finishing school', she had the opportunity to learn all about high fashion & went from Brunette to Blond... After only a few months of walking the same studio streets as Cary Grant & Ronald Regan, she chose the quieter ~ though no less glamorous ~ life as a soccer Mom & Wall Street Lawyer's "Bride", as Dad always called her for their entire 40 year marriage...
They were married in June 1946, in his Brother & Sister-in-law's Ardsley-on-Hudson flower garden...
Over the years, between her never ending duties as Soccer Mom Extraordinaire for (me), her daughter, Jane, & her 2 sons, Michael & Marc, she made time to volunteer at the County Hospital, was very active with The Junior League and pursued her keen interest in New Age subjects as authored by Joseph Campbell, de Chardin, Hillman, Bly & so many others...
She was generous to a fault with all manner of people (usually not her age or class), not only with her time but also by always being available with sage council (& sometimes financial help ~ not always repaid)...
Although such travel is commonplace nowadays, it was always to the beat of her own drum ~ never "the done thing" as prescribed by the ladies & society of the time...
~ Renting a Winnebago Camper for a jaunt with us kids to LA & San Fran...then back to NY...
~ At nearly 80, treating Daughter & Granddaughter via planes, trains, & boats, around the Holy Land, London, Greece, Turkey, & Italy with only a carryon 'rolly' & purse...
~ Visiting & honoring the D-Day Landing Memorials & Cemeteries...
~ Walking the ancient streets & Labyrinth of Chartres...
All with irrepressible, irreplaceable
Panache, Style, Kindness & Spirit...
Forever loved, adored, admired...
💖 Will always miss you Mom!
Love,
Jane
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.
