Carol J. Lathrop
Waterford — Carol Joanne (Houghton) Lathrop peacefully passed away, surrounded by her loving family, on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Carol was born on Jan. 24, 1940, in Norwich, to Grace (Russell) and Raymond Houghton. She spent part of her childhood in Florida and then returned to Norwich where she attended and graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1957. On April 9, 1960, she married Jack Lathrop and they raised three children in their home in Waterford for 56 years, until his death in 2016. In 1974, they acquired a winter home in Vermont, where a lifetime of memories were made while skiing, snowmobiling and laughing with family and friends alike. Jack and Carol, along with the Perry family, opened Perry-Lathrop Auto Body in November of 1976, which continues to operate today.
After staying at home and raising their children to school age, Carol worked for the pediatric group of Drs. Adams, Robinson and Stein in New London, then later at Thameside OBGYN in Groton until 2015. During that time, she also worked at Perry-Lathrop Auto Body tending to finances and payroll.
Family came first for Carol, and putting the needs of others before her own came naturally. And for this born-to-shop woman, Christmas was her favorite time of year. It is the season of giving, and she loved to overindulge, which is why she earned the title “Santa Carol.” She was also known to many as “Grammy Carol,” no matter their age, because she treated everyone as her own family, while she happily shared her good fortunes in life with those around her. She loved to travel all around the country with Jack, her family and their close friends, to places like Florida, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Ocean Isle and along the NASCAR circuit.
In her most recent years, she bravely battled breast cancer in 2011, and then in 2015 was diagnosed with and battled Acute Myeloid Leukemia. These diseases did not stop her as she continued on with her daily life of caring for Jack, running errands, shopping and visiting with grandchildren. She had the biggest heart and the strongest will to live of anyone we know. She truly was a fighter and fought until the very end, when she succumbed to a battle with pneumonia.
Carol is survived by her daughter, Karen (Tony) Macrino of Waterford; two sons, Jeffrey (Anna) Lathrop of Quaker Hill and Todd (Vickie) Lathrop of Waterford. She has seven grandchildren, Caroline Surdo, Jeffrey Whiton, Megan Reed, Sarah Lathrop, Jack Lathrop, Joseph Lathrop and William Lathrop; and two great-granddaughters, Maya Reed and Emma Surdo; and will also be missed by her cat, Willie. She was recently predeceased by her husband, John C. Lathrop of Waterford, and her two beloved cats, Winston and Simon.
Her family and many friends are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the loss of this wonderful woman and appreciate the kind words, memories, support and heartfelt sympathy that has been sent from near and far. We would like to thank the doctors, physician’s assistants, nurses and support staff at Yale New Haven Hospital MICU and Smilow Cancer Center for the exhaustive medical care and compassion that they genuinely expressed to Grammy Carol during these last hard-fought weeks of her life.
Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. An additional calling hour will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a Service at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Private Burial at the Union Cemetery in Quaker Hill, with her beloved Jack, will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation at tbbcf.org or The Cactus Jack Foundation, P.O. Box 145, Waterford, CT 06385.
Please visit www.neilan-funeralhome.com to leave a condolence message for Carol’s family.