West Lebanon, N.H. — Carol Mary Higgins died Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. She was born in Lincoln, Rhode Island, March 25, 1936, the fourth of Clementine Malloy and Thomas Higgins’ five children. She served in the United States Armed Forces Medical Corps from 1954 until 1957 stationed in Florida. It was there that she met Gerald Greenan and in 1957 they married in Pascagoula, Miss. Between 1958 and 1962, Carol and Jerry were joined by four daughters, Colleen, Ann, Mary, and Christine. They spent their early married life on Air Force bases, and university campuses as Jerry pursued his career. Never one to be idle Carol was a Girl Scout leader, catechism teacher, and full-time mother. In 1967, while Jerry served a tour of duty in Vietnam Carol kept the home fires burning and nurtured their very active daughters.

Carol’s love of children and learning lead her back to school. She matriculated at Norwich University, where she pursued her Bachelor’s in Early Elementary Education. In 1976 she graduated as one of the first women to earn a four-year degree at Norwich. Her first job was with the Montpelier Environmental Education Program (MEEP) a cutting-edge program fostering environmental literacy. Every moment was a teachable one to Carol, and she was committed to educational opportunity for all children. As a classroom teacher, Carol stayed “fresh” by doing graduate-level training at Goddard College, UVM, and Champlain College. She continued to be a substitute teacher and tutor long after her classroom retirement. She and Jerry were both restless in retirement, so their travel adventures kept them full of new experiences and cultures.

“G-ma” and “Jer-bear” always welcomed friends (their own and those of the girls) into their home. A party at the Greenans’ was always a great one teeming with music and laughter not to mention plenty of food and beer. They treated everyone with kindness and generosity. Aunt Carol was never happier than when her Rhode Island relatives could join their gatherings.

Her parents, brothers, Thomas and Allen Higgins, and sisters, Ruth Cullion and Nancy Aissis predeceased her. She is survived by her husband of 60 years; and daughters, Colleen Olson, Ann Naumann (Terry), Mary Skiffington, and Christine Mulligan (James); grandchildren, Katie, Erik, Brandon, Amy, Maria, Jesse, and Alex; and great-grandchildren, Leif and Decker were her beloved beacons in her last years. Nothing made her eyes dance more than time spent with them.

Carol’s family is grateful for the exceptional care provided by the compassionate staff of the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative & Hospice Care and request that memorial donations be directed there in care of Dorothy Heinrichs in the Office of Development at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Donations would also be welcomed by the Union Elementary School, 1 Park Avenue, Montpelier, VT 05602 c/o Chris Hennessey, Principal. Everyone can honor Carol’s memory by taking the time to sit and read to a child. Ricker Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and you may leave your online memorial at www.rickerfuneralhome.com. There will be a private memorial in the Spring.

“Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” ~ Dalai Lama.