Thelma (Ulwick) Carey, originally of East Boston, MA, passed away peacefully at the Kalispell (MT) Regional Health Care Facilities (Brendan House) on August 14, 2017, at the age of 93. She was born on February 5, 1924, the fourth daughter of the late Ole and Alma (Jorgenson) Ulwick. Thelma married Stanley Carey in 1946, living in Malden, MA, and working to support the family while Stanley received his Electrical Technologist degree. After the birth of their second child, Thelma and Stanley moved to the suburbs of Hamilton, MA, in 1956 to raise their family. Raised Lutheran and practicing Methodist for most of her life, the church was a significant part of Thelma’s life, particularly in Hamilton. She had been an active member of the choir and Couple’s Club at church with Stanley. In fact, singing was a significant part of her life, whether singing in the church choir, or as a member of the “Sweet Adelines” Barbershop Singing Association or just when she was happy. It was her “happiness tell”. Besides singing, dancing – especially spontaneously – was something that was clearly in her. She is remembered as having gotten up to dance some sort of jitterbug with a brand-new acquaintance in a restaurant, as well as getting out on the dance floor at her grandson’s high school graduation to dance with some teenage graduates. Her third passion was reading – until limited by eyesight in older age, she would routinely read three or more books each week. She was always willing to try new things, even into older age. At the age of 90 she learned to kayak on Ashely Lake in Montana and could be seen travelling around the lake and forest on the back of an ATV. Until limited mobility set in later in her nineties, she would take frequent two-mile morning walks at the lake. She and her husband Stanley greatly enjoyed their yearly trips for several seasons to NH to visit with her sister Louise (Lewis) and attend the annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Parade and Game. In later years, “Thelma and Louise” would be a common sight in airports traveling together to visit children and friends in far-flung locations across the US. Thelma was ferociously independent, living on her own in a two-story home with a big yard (mowing it until she was about 90) in Flower Mound, TX, with assistance from caring neighbors. Her adopted family motto was “We Shall Persevere.” Thelma is predeceased by her parents and all of her siblings – Walter, Louise, Ann, Donald, Norma and Shirley – as well as her husband of 56 years, Stanley. She is survived by her son, Bruce, his wife Donna (Laplante) and grandson Sean from Calgary Canada, and her son Neil, his wife Kit (Vitu) and grandchildren Alex and Kristen from Post Falls ID. Thelma will be laid to rest next to her husband Stanley in Union Cemetery in Claremont on August 26, 2017. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Purple Heart Foundation.
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