Carol Sue Freeman

Carol Sue (Vanderbilt) Freeman, aged 87, of Cary, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2025 after a brief decline in health. Carol lived a life of care and devotion to her family, of being a thoughtful and kind friend and neighbor, and of hard, dedicated work.

She was born the 5th of seven children, in Wayne, NY on June 6, 1937 to the late Harold and Hattie Vanderbilt. She enjoyed 50 years of marriage to Richard C. Jacobi who predeceased her in early 2008. She remarried in 2013 to Richard P. Freeman who passed away in 2022. She was preceded in death by her siblings - Curtis, James, Jean (Frocione), Lucille (Beahan), Barbara (Rice), and Gloria (Black). She is survived by her three children - son, Steven R. Jacobi, daughter, Sue A. Jiang, and son, Paul D. Jacobi, as well as three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A graduate of Liverpool High School, Carol lived, worked and raised her family in central and upstate NY up until she reached retirement. Carol worked in the banking and finance industry and retired from the Trust Department of Marine Midland Bank in Syracuse, NY where she thoroughly enjoyed the investigative nature of the trust work she did.

She retired to the Wilmington, NC area where she was a member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the VFW post. After her first husband passed away, she moved to Cary NC to be closer to her family. She continued to volunteer for the VFW post in Cary. Carol was also an avid puzzler - she enjoyed crossword puzzles immensely as well as working on large (1000 piece) picture puzzles that she would start on New Years Eve and take into the New Year to complete. She was a voracious reader, always having a book at hand.

Carol was a spirited and feisty woman who loved to laugh. She appreciated a good party or holiday event and, as a good and generous cook, would always bring food. She loved cheering on her favorite NHL team - the Carolina Hurricanes, knowing all of their stats. Many did not know that she was also a brave and determined cancer survivor. Diagnosed over 10 years ago with breast cancer, she fought that fight everyday with dignity and optimism. In the end, it was not the cancer that took her. She won that battle and did so without complaint, remaining positive, independent and “in charge” to the end of her life.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society and Transitions LifeCare:

https://www.transitionslifecare.org/donate/

https://www.cancer.org/donate.htmlgad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI37PK2tnQiwMVpFhHAR0LQCTrEAAYASAEEgIG0PD_BwE