Carol Elizabeth Boyle

Carol Elizabeth (Chapla) Boyle, Ed.D., age 88, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Beloved wife of Robert E. Boyle for almost 66 years, she was married in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, on August 20, 1959. Together, they built a legacy of faith, family, and love — one celebration, one memory, and one tradition at a time.

Carol was born on August 10, 1936, in Lorain, Ohio, to Paul P. and Anne Crowe Chapla. As the eldest daughter in a large Slovak-Irish American family, she inherited the cultural richness of her Slovak father and her Irish mother, a second-generation immigrant whose warmth and spirit echoed throughout Carol’s life.

A gifted academic and lifelong learner, Carol earned her bachelor’s degree from Immaculata University, a Master of Science from Pace University, and her Doctorate in Education from Columbia University in 1988. She dedicated over 30 years to the Lakeland Central School District in Westchester County, NY, where she served as an Administrator and English teacher. Her passion for literature, language, and the transformative power of education touched the lives of countless students.

Carol and Bob spent many years in Peekskill and Croton-on-Hudson, New York, and a brief return to Pennsylvania. Carol and Bob found their way to Marco Island in 1981, spending more and more time there over the years until it became their full-time home. In each of these places, Carol created a home filled with grace and welcome. Her impeccable style, love of music and dancing, and joy in entertaining made her a radiant presence wherever she went — but above all, it was her time with family that she treasured most.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Robert; her four children: Nancy Kane Boyle, Eugene John Boyle II (Mihoko), Tracy Ellen Egan (Michael), and Brian Robert Boyle (Denise); her 11 grandchildren; her 6 great-grandchildren; and her brother, Capt. Paul A. Chapla, U.S. Navy (Ret.). She is now reunited in peace with her grandson, Judson Lee Rudgers; her parents, Paul P. and Anne Crowe Chapla; and her siblings Patricia, Marianne, and the late Lt. Col. Daniel B. Chapla, U.S. Marine Corps. (Ret.).

Though she faced health challenges, Carol remained resilient, optimistic, and purposeful. Driven by a spirit of adventure and a love of learning, she took up skiing, tennis, and golf — embracing each with enthusiasm and joy. Her adventurous nature led her and Bob across the globe — from Europe to Asia, the Caribbean, and nearly every U.S. state. A devout Catholic, worshiped faithfully at her home parishes and especially at San Marco Catholic Church (Marco Island).

Above all, Carol’s heart belonged to her family. Holiday gatherings were the soul of her year. From Easter egg coloring to Thanksgiving blessings and cherished Christmas traditions, she orchestrated every detail with love and intention, nurturing rituals that brought generations together. She even authored personalized poems for each of her children and grandchildren — words that became keepsakes of her love and humor.

Carol was a woman of quiet strength, joyful wit, and radiant love. Her legacy lives on in every shared meal, every family tradition, and every life she touched. As she once wrote: “Help us all to live our days with caring hearts and loving ways.” She did just that — and more.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, April 22 at 11:00 at San Marco Catholic Church, 851 San Marco Rd, Marco Island, FL. Entombment will follow at 1:00 at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens, 525 111th Ave N, Naples, FL.