Caroline Shearer

Caroline D. Shearer, 88, of E. Harwich, Massachusetts, passed away on May 29, 2019, at Liberty Commons nursing facility, Chatham. Her husband and daughter were by her side. She was born on May 7, 1931 in Franklin, New Jersey to Mary and Michael Krupa Balson.

Besides her husband (married for 70 years) John, and daughter Carol Shearer and partner George Anderson, Caroline is survived by her nieces and nephews including Karen DeMarco and husband Steve, Chris Berg and husband Bob, and Bill Hansen and wife Patricia; and a host of grandchildren.

Caroline graduated with honors from Franklin High School in 1949, where she was the head of the student council. She met her husband John in 1948. John was a British engineering student on assignment from London University, United Kingdom.

After graduating, Caroline bravely sailed to England to meet up with John and together they made the four-week journey by mailboat to Durban, South Africa where they married. Caroline and John’s mother (Marjorie) became instant friends; and Marjorie took the young Caroline under her wing. John was assigned to N. Rhodesia (now known as Zambia) to start his first position. With encouragement from Marjorie, Caroline took tennis lessons and developed a passion for playing tennis. This passion for the sport stayed with her for the rest of her life and was passed on to her daughter.

After the birth of her son, William, the family return to the U.S. They settled in Lake Hopatcong, N.J. Their daughter, Carol, was born a few years later. Caroline decided to attend Fairleigh Dickinson to study anthropology. After 2 years of study, however, John’s company transferred him to London. Caroline loved the 12 years that she lived in England, and made lifelong friends. She developed her love of sewing in England and volunteered for several worthy organizations. She was the rock to her family; and used her positive and sunny outlook on life to lift her teenage children up when faced with life’s challenges.

After Caroline and John moved to Bethlehem PA, Caroline met a woman who introduced her to the world of antique clothing buttons. This fit well with her sewing; she not only collected an amazing array of buttons but met some very talented people who had a variety of uses for her buttons. Her buttons decorated hats, and beautiful clothing. Caroline and John spent the last happy 35 years in Harwich MA. She became a member of the National and International Button Society. She enjoyed her friends from the book club, she was an active member of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Orleans, and volunteered for the Homeless Prevention Council. One of her favorite activities was working out at the gym in Orleans which she finally gave up in her early 80s. She would call her daughter to tell her about how many more pull-ups on the bar she could do than one of the younger gym members!

Caroline was an extraordinary person. She always had a smile on her face, and always had time to listen to others. If there was a young man working in her home and who had a girlfriend problem or had just broken up; their they were sitting at the kitchen table eating cookies and pouring out their hearts. If friends were ill or in need of help, Caroline was there to help.

Caroline’s family are greatly appreciative for the wonderful care she received from Liberty Commons nursing facility and at the end from hospice.

The burial will be private with her immediate family. Please make donations in her name to her favorite charity, Homeless Prevention Council, Old Tote Road, Orleans, MA. https://www.hpccapecod.org/our-services. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.