Obituary
Carole Keith Worsh (born Carole Hartlie Keith on March 25, 1940 in Moncton New Brunswick, Canada)
lost her valiant year and a half battle with glioblastoma peacefully on Jan 5, 2023 in her home in
Englewood, Florida surrounded by loved ones. During her illness, she made the most of every moment,
drawing loved ones near (as she always did) and keeping them in stitches with her endless stream of
witty remarks and blossoming sense of humor; always staying positive, courageous, and loving. Carole
dedicated her life to caring for, and connecting with others. This happened with friends and family, and
also in her career as a nurse practitioner and Director of college health centers.
Preceded in death by her father Ralph Dana Keith, her mother Jean Caroline Archibald Keith, her baby
sister Diane, and her grandchild Mischa (stillborn). She is survived by her children Lauren, Amy (Steve),
and Lisa (Christian), her grandchildren Ben, Max, and Cooper, her sisters (the “Ceesters”) Chris, Connie
(Dave), and Cathy (Pierre), her nieces Deb (Mark and children Oliver and Sophie), Melissa (Lisa Anne), Jill
(Phil and children Henry and Gabe), nephews Kevin (Sheryl and children Cullen, Hannah, Logan, and
Ayden), Chris, Ian, and her ex-husband Butch (Sue).
Although Carole’s parents died quite young, she rallied her sisters and their families together for as many
holidays and summer vacations as humanly possible. Their dedication to each other (and always
remaining close) precipitated numerous annual visits, cottage stays, trips, and group adventures.
Carole’s children and grandchildren’s lives are enriched through her laughs, love, smiles, and network of
loving family, friends, and large group celebrations where all were welcome, valued, and enjoyed. All of
the cousins also grew up enjoying this (ceesters) extended family time, laughter, and fun. Now as adults
with families of their own, Carole still reunites them all. Her strength of connection has passed down
from generation to generation, and is emanating through; pulling them all together.
As a college health director in the 1980s, Carole brought together local directors and created an
organization CHAND (College Health Association of Nurse Directors). This organization empowered the
directors to share best practices, solve problems, support each other, and create a strong network.
Carole also volunteered her time in the leadership of NECHA (New England College Health Association),
ACHA (American College Health Association), and NPACE (Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing
Education). She mentored many and created a strong network of friends and colleagues. Carole was
modest to a fault, but her colleagues recognized her twice with amazing awards. In 2000 she received
the NECHA Louise Gazzara Award for “recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of college
health, the institution, and NECHA”. And in 2009 she was awarded the ACHA E. Dean Lovett Award in”
recognition of outstanding direction of and contributions to a college health program in an exemplary
manner”. In a July 2022 ACHA article they say she was “appropriately known in college health circles in
Massachusetts as the ‘mother of college health’ and directors in the state will always be indebted to her
for her amazing foresight in setting up this strong and valuable organization and for fostering the highest
quality of health care for our college students. “
Carole welcomed everyone to her house, table, and community. Her children grew up surrounded by
the aforementioned family and friends as well as numerous college students enjoying the sanctuary of
her care. When Carole would meet someone, she would build an immediate rapport and within minutes
would find a friend, cause, or interest in common. She made everyone feel important and cared about.
Known as the “five degrees of separation of Carole” (i.e. less than “six degrees of separation”). Even her
doctors would talk about her well-populated zoom calls with her posse of care-givers. Her medical team
was amazing and it was evident they felt her magnetism as well. This never-ending supply of love shared
by Carole made her network of loved ones large, wide, and deep. Through her illness she received well
wishes, cards, flowers, and messages daily.
Family was everything to Carole. And it was never just limited to blood relations. When she loved, she
loved fiercely. Her family benefitted from this skill and have life-long, multi-generational relationships
with neighbors who became family. Her children and grandchildren are a part of the “three families”
(the Worshes, Lloyds, and Walker/Seligmanns) that love and care across generations, states, borders, and
time. Her grandchildren have two “extra sets” of grandparents and endless streams of love. This
extended family also enriches the Ceesters, nieces, and nephew’s lives as well. Family is never far away;
all have reached out and supported her to the end.
One of Carole’s favorite things to do was word puzzles. Anything from Scrabble, to Boggle, Words with
Friends, Wordle, Spelling bee, etc. She was a strong competitor with a vast vocabulary who still
completed these puzzles until her last weeks of life. And although she loved word puzzles, nothing could
top her hankering for thrift shopping. She loved finding the best deals and stores (Goodwill, Salvation
Army, etc.). She would spend hours scouring the options and then purchasing only the best. It brought
her so much joy to share this activity with family and friends (and especially to introduce and mentor
“newbies” to the art and joy of thrifting).
Carole also LOVED the ocean, shells, sand, sea glass, and gathering mementoes from each visit to
cherish. One could not enter her house without noticing her collections of sea glass, shells, seaweed,
shark’s teeth and more. If you admired an object, she would share which trip and beach each treasure
was from. During the pandemic in 2020 Carole made use of the time to organize thousands and
thousands of shells (gathered in over 40 years of beachcombing) . This led to stringing shells on fishing
line and the creation of over 70 gorgeous mobiles of driftwood, shells, coral, and more. In July 2022 her
daughters helped her finish, pack, and mail these gifts to many (near and far). This project kept her busy
and focused over the past year. Pictures of recipients with their mobiles poured in; it brought her great
joy to see their smiles with her creations.
We are heartbroken, that she is no longer with us, but her legacy of love remains forever.
“Don’t dwell on what has passed away…there is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets
in” – Leonard Cohen (Anthem)
No funeral or service will be held (per Carole’s wishes). If you feel so moved, find a way to celebrate
Carole in a way that is meaningful to you. She would love that.
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