Obituary: Carol C. McCorkle, 63, of Woodbury

Carol C. McCorkle, 63, of Woodbury, died Tuesday, December 27, 2011, at her home, succumbing to metastatic breast cancer.

She was in the loving care of her family, the VNA Northwest Hospice staff and many friends and neighbors. She is survived by E. Joel McCorkle, her husband of 38 years.

McCorkle was born on August 15, 1948, in Rockville Center, N.Y. She was the daughter of the late Nelson Butler of Hartford and the late Jean Gagnon of North Babylon, N.Y. She was the stepdaughter of the late John Gagnon.

McCorkle lived her early years in Unionville but grew up in North Babylon, graduating from high school in 1967. While employed at Airborne Instruments Laboratory, she attended evening classes at the State University of New York in Farmingdale, N.Y., where she earned her nursing degree.

She became a licensed registered nurse in New York and soon after in Connecticut. She returned to Connecticut in 1976 with her husband and has lived in Woodbury ever since.

McCorkle briefly worked at the and St. Mary’s Hospital. She enjoyed a long and rewarding career at New Milford Hospital, serving both as a pediatric and medical surgical staff nurse.

She will be remembered as a special person for the compassionate care she rendered to her family and countless patients and their families over the years.

McCorkle had considerable artistic talent. While never finding the time to pursue her early interest in painting, she was accomplished in sewing and needle crafts and loved to cook.

She thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors, spending many happy and fulfilling days in her flower and vegetable gardens. Having spent summers in her youth in Orleans, Cape Cod, she developed an unending love for the tidal marshes, bay and ocean surrounding the Cape.

She and her family spent many wonderful camping vacations in New England. The Rangeley Lakes region of Maine was a special place where she loved to hike and kayak.

McCorkle was devoted to her Christian faith. She served on the church council at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Thomaston as well as the call committee, the health and wellness committee, and always lent a helping hand to community outreach programs as needed.

Beside her husband, McCorkle is survived by daughter, Rebecca of Southbury, her son Andrew of New York, N.Y., her brother David Butler and his wife of Judy Buena Vista, Colo., her niece Barbara Garrett and nephew Dennis Butler and their families in Pennsylvania.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law Susan Cheatham and nephew Matthew Cheatham and his family of Woodbury, and step-nieces Sylvia Green of Woodbury and Susan Simons of Watertown. She will be missed by her cousins, friends and neighbors. McCorkle was predeceased by her younger brother Paul of North Babylon, N.Y.

Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 2 School St. Devotions will be offered at 7:30 p.m.

Funeral Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 505 South Main St., Thomaston.

Internment: , Woodbury. Internment will occur at a later date, at the convenience of the family.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Thomaston; the Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center c/o MOH, Waterbury; the , VNA Northwest, Bantam; VNS of Connecticut, the American Cancer Society or Susan G. Komen for the Cure.