A Tribute to Carol Villard

Carol and I meet in the late 1980’s at IBM in Kingston, NY.    We immediately became friends and started a Walking Club of employees who decided to walk during lunch time.  We both had a dream of someday moving from upper state NY to the Washington DC area.   We also discovered we were the same age and that we each had a daughter named “Deb”.  In less than 3 years we both were living in Maryland, where I had the opportunity to attend Carol’s Deb’s wedding in a cute little church on Maryland’s Eastern shore.  Carol worked for IBM’s Air Traffic Control System for a few years and then worked at AOL.  We stayed in touch all these years mostly though her wonderful emails describing all her many exciting adventures, new friends, many good times and some not so good times.  I will never forget those emails because of how amazing it was that no matter how difficult her situations became, Carol could always see the positive aspects of it.   Everywhere she went, she met truly giving people because she was always so giving herself.    I will always miss Carol, but I will never forget her remarkable outlook on life. 
Carol will always have a special place in my heart.

What we remember most about Carol is her laughter - especially at Thanksgiving.  They say that  "the sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness..." and that was certainly true of Carol.  We'll miss not only her infectious laughter, but also her caring ways.

Bruce Sr., Toni, Elizabeth, and Bruce Jr.

 I met Carol at IBM sometime in the mid-80's....  I don't remember how or when but one day we were friends going out to lunch and such.  We worked in the same building in Kingston, NY.   One memory that stands out vividly was the May my dog bit me and I was hospitized for several days.  The bite was on the top of my right hand and by morning it was so swollen that you could not see the fingers.. it just looked like a big club.   The hospital immobilized it in an upright position.  In their infinite wisdom, they inserted the IV line at the bending point of my left arm,,,  one arm up and one out flat and they delivered lunch and left.   Along came Carol to feed me and wash my hair until the IV was removed.   I spent my 35th birthday in the hospital and will always remember how Carol made it bearable.    I also remember the lunch (at the restaurant that gave out popcorn... can't remember the name)  when I got on her case about smoking.   I had just quit and knew it was hard but could be done.  Carol was talking about Deb and how much meaning she brought to her life.   I blurted out that I didn't understand how she could say she loved her so much but continues to smoke knowing it would ultimately result in Deb's being without her.   That is something you can only say to a very good friend!   She was mad... and it ended our lunch in silence.  She called me the next day, though,  to say she thought about it and had smoked her last cigarette.  For years she told me that I saved her life.  I don't know if that was true but it created an unbreakable bond between us.   I haven't seen Carol since the early 2000's when she visited me at a friend's house in Virginia.  i am so glad she got to meet my son that day ....  we corresponded by email and gettting her notes was always a bright spot in my day.   Rest in peace with the Lord, Carol. You are sorely missed.  jan

 I new Carol for several years and first met her through Newcomer's Club. We played cards together for a while and then formed a stitch and bitch group! We really had a lot of fun and I am not sure how much stitching actually ever got done but it was so much fun getting together. Carol also came and styed with us for a while and then moved on to someplace else. We kept in touch through emails over the past few years. I will never foget all the good tmes we had togther. She will be greatly missed. And I will see her again someday!      Lynn Strachan

• I don't remember exactly when I met Carol, but it was sometime back in the early 1980's in the good old IBM days. I came to know her as a very dear friend. She was a very unique person. She was generous, kind hearted and a very good listener! You couldn't mistake her laugh for anyone else's. Although I haven't seen her in many years, the memories of her are very vivid. Carol, my friend, rest in peace -you are loved by many and you will always be remembered.

 I first met Carol at a campout, probably in mid-2000, in Virginia, along with another friend, Barbara.  The three of us kept in touch and met up at campgrounds in various places for many years after.  One Spring Carol and I caravaned back East from Texas, stopping to explore a new place here and there.  Carol was always happy, laughing, giggling.  We really enjoyed each other's company.  She was a delightful person.  I'm so happy I had the opportunity of knowing her.