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I would like to share the obituary with you as we tried to teach everyone what are mother was truly like Carol Ann Speaker. Our dear mom, also known as momma, grandma, grandma with Kellie, Grandma Speaker, sister, auntie, and dear friend passed away on Thursday morning, the 7th of August, 2009. Sitting down now to write this testament to her life is not easy. How do you describe in a few sentences her journey of 63 years? Her life was filled with all that a life is filled with: happiness; love; sadness; laughter; pain; joy; setback; accomplishment. The strongest of all being love. She will be remembered by all as a loving and special individual.

Carol was the first child born to John Heron and Ruth Heron (Dean) in Providence, R.I. Her loving sister, Kathy Weasel was born four years later. Mom graduated from GH school in Cranston, R.I. and immediately extended her education to learn to use a comptometer (early adding machine). She used this skill for several years in the manufacturing industry. It is funny now to think of this as we never considered math her strongest subject.

Mom met and married our Dad, Gerald Speaker, a sailor, in 1967 and moved to Torrington in 1974. Todd was born in July 1968, Scott in August 1970 and Kellie in October 1974. Todd and his wife Carol live in Torrington with four children, Scott and his wife Meg live in Oxford with five children and Kellie and her husband Scott Bournique live in Torrington with two children. Eleven grandchildren, all sharing in the abundant love of Mom.

One of her greatest personal accomplishments in life was when she completed her college degree in 1991 after nine years of part-time study. Her story appeared as a half-page article in the local newspaper with the byline, ‘I hope what I’ve done with my children is to let them know that education is the key to getting what you want.’

Mom always had some type of job throughout entire life. She was a Head Start teacher, nurse’s aid, teacher’s assistant, day care center owner, and day care provider. For a period of time, she worked closely with their daughter Kellie at Cherry Brook Health Care Center in Canton. Her entire career was always based on helping others.

Mom loved her family, spending time with her sister in Florida, her grandchildren at parties and sons and daughter at Christmas time. She enjoyed many, many things including early morning walks, making prayer shawls, knitting blankets for her grandchildren, swimming, learning new things like playing the piano, reading books, listening to the birds and a nice warm fire. All of these things will remind us of her. She successfully fought her first bout of cancer and served as a role model to us all. To our great sadness and many tears, the second bout was too strong and fast for any of us to contend with. We will miss you dearly Mom and will carry your love and memory for the rest of our lives. Your strong spirit will live on in the hearts and minds of your loving family and friends