Carole Marguerite Marquis passed away Tuesday, September 4, 2018, surrounded by her daughters. She was 83. Carole was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, to the late Marguerite David.

Carole was a beautiful woman who had a very full and happy life. She was brave and strong in the face of recent illness, and she had a heart of gold and a will of iron. She adored her home and her family and always expressed joy for the life she lived. Carole’s passions were entertaining, cooking, bridge, tennis, travel, shopping and gardening. She was an avid reader and loved to learn. She could do math in her head and always kept abreast of current events. She also loved watching the birds in her backyard and fed them every day. She had a soft spot for stray kitties and many found their way into her home and her heart permanently. Carole passed along many of her passions to her daughters and grandchildren.

Carole met her late husband Don on a blind date and she knew he was the one when her Mom met him and said, “he is so handsome…and those eyes!” During their 54 years of marriage they had many wonderful adventures. After marrying in 1955, they lived in Germany where Don was stationed in the US Army. Carole worked on the Army base as a secretary for a General, taking the fastest dictation of any of her peers. She was pregnant with their oldest daughter when Don was discharged, and they moved back to the US to start their family. She and Don had three daughters and lived in upstate New York for 12 years. They made many friends in their neighborhood in West Hurley and through Don’s work at IBM and began a lifelong tradition of enjoying friends and entertaining. Don taught Carole to ski and she braved the slopes with three young girls in tow every winter in the Catskills. They often visited family in Massachusetts in the summer and for holidays. They were delighted when they were transferred by IBM to the South of France in 1971. Carole flourished in France making lifelong friends and enjoying everything Europe had to offer. They traveled to Italy, Austria, Monaco, and Switzerland and explored France from coast to coast.

In 1973 IBM moved her family to Raleigh, NC, and it became home. Over the next 45 years Carole and Don built a fulfilling life here. They enjoyed a close circle of friends with whom they played golf, tennis and bridge. And then there was the Gourmet club. Carole was an amazing cook and would spend hours creating then cooking the perfect menu for a dinner with friends. Carole was a homemaker, and a lovely home she made – her sewing skills and flare for decorating could be found in every corner of her house. It was filled with color and comfort.

In 1982 Carole and Don enjoyed another transfer to France for a few years, just the two of them. On their journey home to the States they went around the world stopping in Japan, Thailand, Singapore, China and more with the final destination their lovely home in Raleigh.

When Don passed away in 2010, Carole maintained the family home, which was a haven for her children and grandchildren. Her many friendships buoyed her through this time, and she continued playing tennis and bridge as often as she could. She found joy in being with her daughters and was proud of their accomplished lives – Pharmacist, Artist, and Communicator. She also cherished and adored her four grandchildren. She had the chance to see them all in a last visit to Maine right before she died. Carole was a loving Mom, a devoted wife, an adoring grandmother, a dear friend and a happy homemaker. While her spirit lives on in the hearts of those who love her, she will be missed beyond measure. Carole is predeceased by her husband Donald Marquis. She is survived by her daughters Donna Marquis-Henke, Lisa Marquis-Bradbury, Patricia Caffrey; their respective spouses Ron Henke, Will Bradbury and Brian Caffrey; and her grandchildren Adam, Hailley, Nicolas and Audrey Bradbury. She is also survived by her sisters Patricia Sanford, Suzanne Leavey, and Pamela Leavey.

A Memorial Service and celebration of Carole’s life will be held at the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State on Sunday, September 23, from 2-4pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association. Please send any correspondence to 10001 Sandcreek Ct, Chapel Hill, NC 27517.