Carol Anne Fortier, devoted wife, beloved mother, humanitarian, philanthropist, knitter, seamstress, incredible baker, melodious piano player, photographer, ceramist, and analyst passed away at the age of 73 on April 25th, 2024.
Carol was born to Elizabeth Harbin on July 25th, 1950. Early in her life, she grew up in Mitchellville Md. Carol was always a caring soul and held a special place in her heart for those in need. Even from an early age, as her mother grew ill, she and her siblings cared for her while attending Frederick Sasser High School. Carol was every bit as strong, determined, and hard working as she was caring. Growing up in poverty with a single mother and a family of 4 siblings, Carol got into Sewing early in her life and made all of her own clothes. She joined the local 4 H club and learned about farming to help her have the knowledge of how to help feed the family raising chickens and growing their food. Despite these challenges, she found time to serve as a volunteer in a Tuberculous Hospital feeding the needy and helping others. In high school, she fell in love with music and joined the choir then on to drama club. Carol went on to graduate with honors. It was in also in High School that Carol met Jon (Mike) Michael Fortier, the love of her life.
Carol went on to attend Prince George’s Community College and entered a nursing program that specialized in perinatal care. After 2 years compassion once again compelled her to move in with her grandmother in order to assist her with her bedridden grandfather who had suffered a stroke. It was in these years that she grew very close with her Grandmother. They shared an interest in sewing and crocheting and would often do so while watching TV or catching up on the day’s activities. On the weekends she and Mike would take “Grandmother Grey” out for Ice Cream night, which became a regular tradition.
Carol has always been a giving soul and, while living with her grandmother, she took clerical jobs to help support with bills and found employment as a Claims Adjuster for Blue Cross Blue Shield, . After her grandfather’s passing, she then married Mike Fortier on September, 10th 1971, and moved to Ft Washington.
In 1973 her mother Elizabeth’s health took a turn for the worse and after years of struggling she lost her fight with MS. Her husband Mike was stationed in California at the time and she then joined him where they remained for a little over a year. While in California she attend school refining her bookkeeping and learning new skills.
As in her personal life, so too did Carol always strive to go above and beyond for others professionally. In the following years, she took a number of positions ranging from Office Manager and Bookkeeper for Mademoiselle Fashions and later as the bookkeeper and office manager for Mack Truck in Clinton, Maryland before finally finding her true place as an Analyst and Desktop Publisher at the Department of Defense in Suitland, Maryland. She gave birth to her pride and joy Shawn the year she joined the Navy in 1981.
Despite being a diligent analyst, mother, and supportive wife she still found time to open her heart to others, often inviting stranded military coworkers to her home for holiday meals when she knew that they could not be with their own families during the holidays.
Indeed, Carol’s love knew no bounds and in 1988, Carol and Mike adopted their first Black Lab (Midnight) which started her lifelong love of dogs. In 1990, after the passing of Mike’s mother, Carol moved with her family to Waldorf to provide a better education for her son. Her love of animals was profound and when Midnight passed away suddenly years later, she and Mike adopted two more Black Labs (Shadow and Cricket). When her son later welcomed his first child, Carol and Mike moved to Howard County to be a bigger part of their lives. It was in these later years that she and Mike rescued her last and final Black Lab, Jake.
Carol was always a woman of many talents. When her son Shawn left for college, she decided to become a realtor and joined her husband in selling homes becoming one of Long and Fosters top agents in Southern Maryland. She specialized in 1st time home buyers feeling they needed more protection and hand holding than others were willing to provide.
Throughout her life, she never tried a hobby that she didn’t like. She had many different interests ranging from photography, ceramics, knitting, piano, cruising, and sewing, upholstery, even making fishing nets.
As, an avid knitter she fell in love with Project Linus and began making children’s blankets, Preemie hats, mittens, and blankets, progressing to lap robes for nursing homes and then on to knitting machines where she designed custom made items and with the used of software would often design Children's favorite characters into the patterns.
Carol’s love of her husband and son was only eclipsed by her love of her grandchildren. In 2016 she became a grandmother and then once again in 2019. She has since spent many hours playing with them and went with them on many family trips to Lancaster, Dutch Wonderland, and the Steamboat Inn where she enjoyed the warm chocolate chip cookies and feeding the ducks.
Carol developed a love of playing Piano. She took private lessons for 15 years and her family home was warmed by the sound of her performances for years. Her love of the Piano transcended generations as she even sat with her first grandchild, Moira, and showed her how to play her first notes at the age of 3.
Her favorite time of the year was Christmas. One of her favorite pastimes over the holiday was to decorate her home with her many collections of Christmas houses and holiday ornaments. Another of her favorite holiday traditions was baking cookies. Every 2nd Saturday in December was Cookie Day. A wonderful day filled with incredible sights, smells, and tastes. Every holiday she would have an open house and invite all family and friends she knew to come and bake cookies for the holiday. She was always very welcoming and would say to those who were nervous: “If you can’t bake you can decorate.” Every year she and her family would make up to 15 to 20 varieties and create a recipe book for guests to take home. She would then take pride in giving cookies to friends and neighbors to enjoy.
Carol's legacy is one of charity and compassion. She was always a caring, giving, and loving soul, adopting her daughter in law as her own, helping coworkers, treating neighbors as family, and always giving to charities. She is survived by her Husband (Mike Fortier), her Son (Shawn Fortier), and her Grandchildren (Moira and Astrid Fortier).
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