This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Carol Ann Mahoney Suits, 82, of Old Saybrook died on March 15 of natural causes at Aaron Manor in Chester. She was the loving wife of Bill Suits, Sr., for 54 years. Carol was born Jan. 31, 1935, and raised in East Orange, New Jersey.

She graduated from Clifford Scott High in 1953, where she was a phenomenal athlete and very involved in a variety of school activities and student government. Carol’s popularity growing up was well known and she had a great group of friends whom she remained close to throughout her entire life. Carol was named to New Jersey All State teams in field hockey and basketball during her high school years and attended Keystone Junior College in Pennsylvania. At Keystone she also excelled athletically and it was there that she met Bill; they were married shortly after.

Carol and Bill moved to Old Saybrook in 1963, where they raised four children and lived there the remaining years of their lives. Carol was extremely popular in the community for more than six decades. She was a centerpiece working in the Old Saybrook Town Hall for more than 30 years, and was well known to town employees and civic leaders across multiple generations. Her smile and signature Irish laugh were infectious to all around her and became a staple at the Town Hall and throughout the community.

Carol was a devout Catholic who was a member of St. John’s parish with her family for more than 50 years, and took joy in attending most of her children’s holy sacraments there. She was an accomplished piano player, avid golfer, and tennis player until her early 40’s, when she was stricken with rheumatoid arthritis and was unable to do those things she loved for the rest of her life. One of her greatest hallmarks was that she managed her difficult affliction with grace and dignity and never complained.

Carol’s greatest passion was her fierce devotion to her family and she was the living definition of understated elegance. She always shunned the spotlight in favor of Bill (who loved it) and her children, who for better or worse always seemed to find it. Carol will be missed by all and leaves her loved ones a treasure chest of memories that will always burn bright.

Carol is survived her daughter Barbara Storms and husband Geoff Storms of La Grange Park, Illinois; son William and wife Paula of Rossmoor, California; son Michael of Old Saybrook; son Peter and wife Katie of Guilford; brother John Mahoney and wife Diane of Scotch Plains, New Jersey; and 11 amazing, beautiful grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on March 21 at St. John’s Church, 161 Main St. in Old Saybrook. Burial followed in the Riverside Cemetery in Old Saybrook. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Carol’s name to the Arthritis Foundation, 35 Cold Spring Rd., Ste. 412, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. To share a memory of Carol or send a condolence to her family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.