Carol Ann Scrivener Chapman, 89 born in Boston, MA on July 26, 1935 and a long-time resident of Duxbury, MA for over 50 years, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on April 4, 2025 in Wallace, NC 'filled to the brim' with wonderful memories and 'stuffed to the gills' with endless love.

Carol was raised in the Quincy, Milton and Braintree area of Massachusetts throughout her school age years. She had early dreams to be a journalist, like her father who worked for the Patriot Ledger newspaper. But her aspirations were forever changed by the influence of her 6th grade teacher, who selected her as class president and encouraged to her consider teaching.

She graduated from Quincy High School in 1953, and then entered college at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. While in college, she met her future husband to be of 62 years, Thomas Chapman, on a blind date during freshman year. They had a lengthy courtship throughout college, and she would spend summers at Tom's family home on Martha's Vineyard. While on the island she worked as a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons on the Vineyard Haven beach. She graduated from UMass in 1957, began her teaching career in nearby Springfield and Ayer and would later go on to earn her Master's Degree in Education from Bridgewater State College. She and Tom were married in Wollaston, MA on January 25th, 1958.

The young couple changed jobs and moved around the state for a few years, but eventually settled in Braintree following the birth of their first child in 1960. Two more children followed in 1961 and 1963 and they remained there until 1970. After a brief one year hiatus to try living in Florida, the family soon returned to buy their first home in beautiful Duxbury, MA. There they shared a mutual love of the local beaches, riding bikes along the Cape Cod Canal, camping trips in their in-famous red Volkswagon van, and enjoyed many wonderful adventures and holidays with family and friends.

Upon settling in Duxbury, Carol re-started her career and went on to a long, purposeful and fulfilling job as an Elementary school teacher in the nearby town of Halifax where she worked until retirement in 1997. She is fondly remembered by her fellow teachers and students for her passion and fun-loving manner, such as leading an annual parade of her class through the entire school, loudly banging pots and pans, as they "marched into March" every spring. Her only classroom rule everyday was simply to "Be Kind".

Carol was never one to seek the limelight or draw attention to herself, but loved to actively participate as a 'social influencer' in many different groups throughout her life and was always willing to speak up for her beliefs. In school-age years she was involved with the Wollaston Baptist Church fellowship, Girl Scouts, and choir. At UMass came the Precisionettes, and after moving to Braintree she joined the Unitarian Universalist All Souls Church there, making many lifetime friends. In Duxbury, she and Tom were on the founding committees that oversaw the construction of the town Senior Center where they met many new friends. She also attended The First Parish Church, was in a 'Friends of the Library' group, and frequently hosted a regular Mahjong game.

Following the death of her husband Tom in 2020, Carol moved across the country to Star, Idaho where she lived with her son Eric and his family for the last five years. While it was a whole new world for her there, she was energized and fascinated by adventures to the Oregon Coast, Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho City Hot Springs and Redfish Lake. She spent many days joyfully splashing and lounging in the backyard pool and also attended numerous concerts, art festivals, and even her first rodeo at age 87.

She had a sharp wit, with a silly sense of humor, and an endless curiosity about the changing world around her. A voracious reader of books and magazines, she also kept busy with crossword and jigsaw puzzles, watching Jeopardy, and trying to document all the birds that visited her backyard. A lover of coffee, ice cream, apple pie, Necco wafer candies, Simon & Garfunkel, lobster rolls, home-baked brownies and banana bread. She loved the smell of fresh cut grass, riding bikes, jumping in the waves and running home to supper in a soft summer rain as the streetlights start to come on.  She diligently kept up with birthdays, anniversaries and holidays sending cards and notes to let one and all know they were in her thoughts and close to her heart.

She was endlessly proud of each of her three children and six grandchildren and took great pride in helping to fund their educations and pursue her life-long love of learning. One of her greatest gifts was being able to get tremendous joy from everyday moments that others might overlook, and her smile could glow enough to light up a room.

The oldest of three siblings, both her brother, Carl D. Scrivener and sister, Gwendolyn Gillen preceded her in death. She is survived by her three children, son Eric & Sharon Chapman of Wallace, NC; son Lance & Gwynne Chapman of Hingham, MA; and daughter Christa & Tim Fischer (her favorite son-in-law) of Ipswich, MA as well as six wonderful grandchildren, Casey, (her favorite granddaughter), Corey & Kirk, and Nathan, Jeffrey & Daniel. There are also numerous adoring nieces and nephews. Her spirit of always standing up for the underdog, love and compassion for others, will forever live on through their collective influence.

In consideration for all her family and friends, a memorial service will be held at a future date to be announced, so that we can all gather and celebrate her wonderful life together.

In Carol's remembrance, all are encouraged to make a charitable gift to Partners In Health at https://www.pih.org/