Carrie Evento
Waterford — Sadly, Carrie Evento passed away Dec. 8 at the age of 100. Her long life began in 1922 in Lisman, Ky., a small town in the western part of the state. Her family later moved to Bowling Green, the home of Western Kentucky University. Carrie attended Western Kentucky, leaving just before graduating to work in a World War II defense plant in Evansville.
Carrie met her husband, Edwin D. Evento (aka Cactus Jack), while working at the plant. They married and began a family. Karen was born in Long Island, N.Y.; Nick was born in Cairo, Ill; and Susan was born in Piketon, Ohio. During this time, Carrie and Eddie ran a general store and owned two trailer parks for workers building power plants.
The Evento family moved to Waterford in 1957. Carrie became involved in many activities including serving as PTA president at both Cohanzie and Clark Lane schools. Chauffeuring her children around to sports events and dance classes consumed a lot of her energy. However, she found time to volunteer at the New London Soup Kitchen.
She also served on the Board of Trustees of the Waterford Historical Society.
Even though Carrie enjoyed a busy life, she decided to expand her horizons. A great reader and lover of literature, she began working at the Waterford Public Library. During her seven years there, she earned a degree in library science from Western Kentucky. She went on to work as the head of circulation at Connecticut College for more than 16 years. She loved her time at the college, working with wonderful students and amazing colleagues. This was a special time in her life.
Equally special was Carrie’s passion for traveling. And travel she did, visiting all the continents and many, many countries. She never met a country she didn’t like, reveling in the uniqueness of each country’s culture.
Her experiences were captured in many photo albums distributed among her children! Her adventures with elephants and penguins provided great stories at the dinner table.
Even though work and travel were important, family was the focal point of Carrie’s life. In addition to raising three children, she was a second mom to her grandchildren and very involved with her great-grandchildren. Carrie would drop everything to help a family member, never making it seem like a sacrifice on her part. Being with family lit up her face with a wonderful smile.
She will be missed by many: her daughter Karen Ulrich and her husband George; her son Nick Evento and his wife Clare; her daughter Susan Evento and her husband Charlie. She also leaves behind a grandson, Dylan Evento and his wife Christina; a granddaughter, Marisa Zou and her husband Shan; great-grandchildren, Savanna, Mackenzie, and Mason Evento and Lucas Zou; great-great-grandchild Violet Viera; “adopted” grandson Lance Ulrich and his wife Julie and sons Hunter and Keaton.
She will also be missed by her nieces in Kentucky, Patricia and Ray Warren, and Beverly and Steve Bowman.
Carrie was predeceased by her parents, Henry and Maude Pritchett; and her brothers, James and Kenneth Pritchett.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Waterford Public Library and the Cactus Jack Foundation. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 7, at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 19 Jay St., New London.