Carol E (Paulk) Darnley

Monson-Carol Elizabeth (Paulk) Darnley, age 76 of Monson, passed away on October 29, 2021 at home surrounded by her family. Carol was born in Springfield to Elizabeth “Betty” Paulk and Carlton R. Paulk and grew up in Springfield and Hampden. As a young woman, Carol dreamed of being an architect and in 1972 she moved into a Monson home she designed and built herself, the subject of a feature article in the Springfield Daily News. In her early years she was a synchronized swimmer and won awards for horse riding. Over the course of her life, she was a seamstress and owner of The Ladybug Shoppe in Monson. She earned a degree in accounting from Springfield Technical Community College and used her skills to prepare tax returns and balance the books for Federated Community Church of Hampden, where she also served as a stewardship consultant and occasional preacher. She also had a long affiliation with the First Church of Monson, most recently as a member of the Hearts Willing group and the Prayer Shawl group. Carol was passionate about education and served as a school committee member and chairperson in Monson. She was a talented artist and loved to knit, sew, embroider, sketch, garden, and decorate. She especially loved spending time with her family: son William Darnley and his wife Brenda of Turners Falls, and son Steven Darnley and his wife Caitlin Gilmet of Portland, Maine, and her grandson, Thomas Darnley. Carol is remembered as a creative person with a ready smile, a persevering and generous spirit, and as someone who believed deeply in God’s grace.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, November 5, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Lombard Funeral Home, 3 Bridge St, Monson, MA. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 1:30pm at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Hampden.

In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial contribution in Carol’s name to the Hampden Federated Church, World Wildlife Fund, or Dakin Animal Rescue.