Carol Elaine Robacker Hennessey

Carol Elaine Robacker Hennessey died peacefully at Cypress Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care in Sun City Center, FL on February 16, 2025, with loving family members by her side. She was born in Rahway, NJ on August 25, 1937, the daughter of Clarence Robacker and Dorothy Williams who both passed away at an early age, so she was raised by her doting grandparents Richard and Frances Williams. After Carol’s Linden High School graduation in 1955, she attended Ursinus College for 3 years where she was a thespian and member of Alpha Sigma Nu Sorority. Carol left to get married and later finished her degree in Psychology at Bowling Green State University. She was a teacher, career counselor, collector, and an award-winning social worker. Her husband of 56 years, Richard Hennessey, a Korean War Veteran and General Motors Accountant died in 2016. They lived in Bethesda, MD, Linden and Edison, NJ, Puerto Rico, Vermilion, OH, Reston, VA, and Oxford, OH. Together, they enjoyed spending time with family and friends, gardening, traveling, boating, and going to the theater, museums, concerts, and Miami University and Talawanda sporting events. Carol was a loving mother of three daughters: Lisa Newman (Rocky), Apollo Beach, FL; Cara Tuley (Brian), Nanjemoy, MD; and Deirdre Little (Jim) Centerville, OH and six grandchildren: Rhys Newman; Marshall (Jacqueline) Newman; Emily Little (Corey Boerboom), Abigal Supeck (Tim), Olivia Little; and Haley Tuley. She had one cherished great grand-daughter Avery Rose Newman who brought her immense joy. The Hennessey’s moved to Oxford, OH in 1999 to be close to family and enjoyed attending Rhys & Marshall’s football, basketball, and baseball games; Emily, Abigail & Olivia’s Destination Imagination competitions, dance recitals, concerts, and softball games; and having “Grammie Camp” with Haley and rooting for her at cheer competitions.

Carol was an actively engaged community member for over twenty years, she was a Docent at the William Holmes McGuffey Museum, on the board of the Oxford Historical Society, an enthusiastic member of two book clubs, the Des Fleurs Garden Club, an actor in OxACT Community Theater, a Volunteer at the Oxford Family Resource Center, and the Butler County Democrats, and an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Community. Carol relished being both a student and teacher in Miami University's Institute for Learning in Retirement, taking at least five classes a term, serving as curriculum committee chair, and teaching popular classes including: The New York Times Week in Review, The Great Mystery Novels, and Soup as a Way of Life. Carol moved to Florida in 2021 to stay close to her loving daughter Lisa and son-in-law Rocky. After a stroke necessitated her move to Assisted Living, she continued to enjoy the sunshine, make friends, participate in family dinners, craft activities, music programs, joyrides, and trips to the local library. Until recently, she read 5-6 books a week and the Sunday NY Times from cover to cover. Her family is grateful for the compassionate care she received from the staff at Cypress Creek and the Lifepath Hospice Purple Team.

Carol’s love of flowers, books and cats was well known. In lieu of bringing flowers, we hope everyone wears something flowered and brings a memory to celebrate her beautiful life.

The Carol R. Hennessey Celebration of Life & Luncheon

Sat. May 31, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

Hopedale Unitarian Universalist Community Church

3870 Oxford Millville Road

Oxford, OH 45056