Carolyn Bates Stanton

Feb 6, 1926 – April 15, 2024

Mrs. Carolyn (Bates) Stanton, 98, passed away peacefully at her home in Marblehead this Monday. Carolyn was born in Salem, the daughter of the late George and Nora (Jennings) Bates. She was the eighth of nine children. She had wonderful memories of growing up in a household filled with music, laughter, and energy. Carolyn was always particularly proud of her mother Nora, who immigrated to Salem from rural Mayo Ireland as a 17-year-old girl…her father George, who had to leave school in Salem as a young boy to help support his family, but rose to become a MA State Representative, the Mayor of Salem and a US Congressman… and her brother Bill, who succeeded his father in Congress. Before each passed on while still in office, George and Bill represented the MA 6th District in Congress continually from 1937 to 1969.

Carolyn attended Salem Public Schools, where in high school she began dating her future husband and best friend, the late Edmund (Ed) Stanton. Carolyn attended Trinity College in Washington DC, where she also helped in the World War II effort as a hospital Candy Striper. After the war she graduated from Tufts University with a degree in Math and worked as a statistician at GE in Lynn. She married Ed in 1949. They moved from Salem to Prince Street in Marblehead in 1956, where Carolyn lived for the rest of her life. Ed and Carolyn raised five children. It was a busy household, but they always made time to go dancing, often at the Corinthian Yacht Club. In her 40s, as the children got older and she read about a shortage of math and science teachers, Carolyn got her Master’s in Education from Salem State. She subsequently became the first female math teacher at Marblehead High School.

When she retired, and Ed passed away before his time in 1989, Carolyn decided she wanted to push herself to create a new stage of life and to make a positive impact in the world. She considered joining the Peace Corps. She modified that a bit by diving into local volunteerism by increasing her deep and ongoing involvement with My Brother’s Table in Lynn, becoming the Marblehead representative to the North Shore Vocational School and being a docent at Peabody Essex Museum. She acted internationally by joining teaching and social service programs in places such as Poland and Northern Ireland. She traveled the world for adventure and fun, often with her good friend David Nolan. She also led a number of super fun “making memories” trips with her broad family.

Carolyn’s later years included her fantastic walking/talking coffee friends, her deep and important faith at Star of the Sea Church, her various relationships with the Marblehead Police and Fire Departments, her friends at the Corinthian Yacht Club, her special bond with everyone at My Brother’s Table and her absolutely wonderful neighbors on Prince St.

Carolyn’s family includes her five children and their spouses: Ellen and Chip Mulaney of Chicago, the late Ned and Mary Stanton of Beverly, Mimi and Mark Shapiro of Swampscott, Neil and Karen Stanton of Westport Island ME and Amy and Tom Ladd of Danvers. She had 14 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was the last of her Bates siblings, but she leaves her beautiful sister-in-law Dorothy Bates of Danvers. Her loving friends and caregivers, Joyce Nansamba and Jannie Nabukenya of Danvers, are also part of the family.

Carolyn was a great woman. Luv ya!

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, April 21st from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead, 142 Elm Street. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 22nd at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 85 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers please make donations to: My Brother’s Table, 98 Willow St., Lynn, MA 01901.