Carol F. Evans
Throughout her life, the 2012 Irish Person of the Year played an integral role in St. Patrick's Parish community. A vibrant resident of "God's Holy Acre", just around the corner from Lowell Normal School, like many of her peers, Carol learned early in life that service to the Parish and Community was of utmost importance. She found time while attending school, to participate in Girl Scouts, CCD, Confirmation Preparation, and St. Patrick’s CYO Girls Championship Softball Teams, as its great left fielder.
Carol graduated from Lowell High School and Tewksbury Hospital School of Nursing and began her career as a caregiver to the community. She worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital, serving the Acre community for ten years. After her time at St. Joseph's, Carol continued her compassionate giving for thirty-five years with the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Lowell. Not one to be dissuaded from her duties, Carol often volunteered to care for patients living in the more troubled areas of Lowell during the turbulent decades of the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. These were times when few people would willingly enter the Acre, Lower Centraville, or the Lower Highlands.
Within the Parish, Carol was responsible for many fundraisers, Acre Club, Pot O Green, and Lucky Leprechaun to name a few. She was also well known for her sports pools. She organized and supervised the weekly Bingo to benefit the School and Parish. She cleaned and painted the school every summer. She was a founding member of the Irish Cultural Committee, and organized several trips for parishioners to Ireland and several areas of North America.
When asked where she found the inspiration for such service, without hesitation Carol said, from her grandmother Annie Flaherty Ryan who immigrated to this country at age 14. Carol recalled how her grandmother would have her purchase money orders to send back to her family in Ireland. Carol later learned that the money sent was the only thing between survival and devastation for her Grandmother’s family. Pride beamed from Carol’s eyes whenever she spoke of the Acre, St. Patrick Parish, her daughter, Karen Witts a Lowell Police Officer, or her grandchildren Ryan P. & Ashlyn M. Witts.
Ever so proud to be an American of Irish descent, Carol is Our Respected and Loved, Irish Person of the Year for 2012.
Throughout her life, the 2012 Irish Person of the Year played an integral role in St. Patrick's Parish community. A vibrant resident of "God's Holy Acre", just around the corner from Lowell Normal School, like many of her peers, Carol learned early in life that service to the Parish and Community was of utmost importance. She found time while attending school, to participate in Girl Scouts, CCD, Confirmation Preparation, and St. Patrick’s CYO Girls Championship Softball Teams, as its great left fielder.
Carol graduated from Lowell High School and Tewksbury Hospital School of Nursing and began her career as a caregiver to the community. She worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital, serving the Acre community for ten years. After her time at St. Joseph's, Carol continued her compassionate giving for thirty-five years with the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Lowell. Not one to be dissuaded from her duties, Carol often volunteered to care for patients living in the more troubled areas of Lowell during the turbulent decades of the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. These were times when few people would willingly enter the Acre, Lower Centraville, or the Lower Highlands.
Within the Parish, Carol was responsible for many fundraisers, Acre Club, Pot O Green, and Lucky Leprechaun to name a few. She was also well known for her sports pools. She organized and supervised the weekly Bingo to benefit the School and Parish. She cleaned and painted the school every summer. She was a founding member of the Irish Cultural Committee, and organized several trips for parishioners to Ireland and several areas of North America.
When asked where she found the inspiration for such service, without hesitation Carol said, from her grandmother Annie Flaherty Ryan who immigrated to this country at age 14. Carol recalled how her grandmother would have her purchase money orders to send back to her family in Ireland. Carol later learned that the money sent was the only thing between survival and devastation for her Grandmother’s family. Pride beamed from Carol’s eyes whenever she spoke of the Acre, St. Patrick Parish, her daughter, Karen Witts a Lowell Police Officer, or her grandchildren Ryan P. & Ashlyn M. Witts.
Ever so proud to be an American of Irish descent, Carol is Our Respected and Loved, Irish Person of the Year for 2012.
