Carol Ann Gately

GATELY, Carol Ann (King) - Age 79, of Scituate and formerly of West Roxbury, passed away suddenly on November 23, 2025. She was the daughter of the late John W. King and Mary (Walsh) King. She was the loving wife of 57 years to John Peter Gately. Carol was survived by her sister, Kathleen King Offen and her brother-in-law, Lanse Offen; she was predeceased by her sister Mary Frances King. She was survived by her three daughters and their families: Tara Elizabeth Gately, her husband, John Hayes, and their children John King, Eleanore, and Kate of Wellesley and Scituate; Kristan Maureen Gately, her husband, Joseph Luke Day, and their children Joseph, Audrey, and Charlie of Roslindale; and Erin Kathleen Gately, her husband Matthew Gifford, and their children Aiden and Jordan of Brookline.

Carol attended Notre Dame Academy in Roxbury. She graduated from Trinity College in Washington, D.C. in 1967 and then received her Masters in Education from Boston College shortly before marrying her high school sweetheart, Peter, on August 10, 1968.

Carol then began her career in the Newton Public Schools teaching elementary age children. She taught in Newton for several years before taking a hiatus to raise her three daughters. Carol later returned to teaching in Newton for another 20 years. She found joy working with young children and her colleagues.

Carol loved her family above all else. She was married to Peter for 57 years. They were each other’s confidants, sharing their true inner thoughts only with each other. She has lived next door to her sister, Kathy, for the past 17 years and enjoyed evenings filled with chatting and visiting. They were the best of friends.

To her daughters, whom she loved fiercely, she provided constant and enduring support; she was always present through life’s ups and downs.

Carol was eager to be a grandmother and once that occurred, loved being with her 8 grandchildren. She was definitely surprised with the chaos that ensued when she went from having four grandchildren to eight in the span of 10 months. Through the years, she attended many tennis matches, hockey and soccer games, and dance recitals. In the summertime, she functioned as a short order cook, making anything they asked for so that she could be near them and participate in all of their conversations. She always loved seeing their Halloween costumes and prom pictures.

Carol believed in truly celebrating all events. For many years, she hosted a huge Thanksgiving dinner for all of her family, and she loved all things Christmas. She adored decorating her house and shopping for family and friends. She spoiled her grandchildren each Christmas and birthday just as her mother had done before her.

Carol was an intense competitor throughout her life, whether it was swimming at the Scituate Harbor Yacht Club and Trinity; playing “friendly” bridge; or golfing regularly with different groups. She even won the grandmothers’ golf tournament three times at Hatherley.

Her friends were a vital part of her life. She hosted dinner parties and Boston College tailgates, and was always the first on the dance floor. She was an avid Patriots fan, celebrating with those around her even in the snow. She often talked on the phone for hours laughing or offering support, and was fiercely loyal to those she loved. She had many cherished lifelong friends from the Scituate Harbor Yacht Club and Trinity and was thrilled to become a member at Hatherley, where she made other wonderful friends through her passion for golf.

Carol was a force to be reckoned with, whether advocating for her students in the Newton Public Schools, supporting her husband, two sisters, and her three daughters, or discussing politics. She will be missed by so many.

A visitation will be held on Friday, November 28, 2025 from 3pm-7pm at Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home, 382 Frist Parish Road, Scituate. A Memorial Service will be held at the Scituate Harbor Yacht Club, 84 Jericho Road, Scituate, on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 11am followed by a luncheon.

If you would like to make a donation in Carol's memory in lieu of flowers, the family asks you to support Swim Across America - Boston. Established in 1996, SAA - Boston has raised over $7 million to fund life-saving cancer research and clinical trials at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mass General Cancer Center.

http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/goto/CarolGately