Carol (Signori) Keliher of Lexington, MA, died on February 15, 2024 at the age of 83 while hospitalized at Lahey Hospital in Burlington, MA.  Carol was with family at the time of her sudden death from a cardiac event.

Carol's unwavering devotion to her family and her Catholic faith, her love for animals, and her mischievous sense of humor are among the many beautiful qualities that her family and friends will remember her for.

Carol was born on July 26, 1940, and grew up in Waterbury, CT. She attended Crosby High School and Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT.  As a young adult, she briefly enjoyed living in both California and Florida where she could enjoy the ocean and the sun. In New England, where she lived most of her life, she eagerly awaited summer every year, and delighted in having a July birthday.

In 1963, she married John D. Keliher, a classmate from Waterbury.  Carol and John moved to New Jersey for his job, and had three daughters, Elizabeth, Anne, and Margaret Mary (Meg).  In 1972, they returned home to Connecticut, where they raised their family together until John's death in 1992.

Carol had several jobs while she raised her children, including as a telephone operator for Southern New England Telephone Co. and later, as the long-time receptionist at Norco Corp in Ridgefield, CT. Her first priority was always her children, and her outside employment was her effort to financially support their education.

Carol moved to Arlington, MA in 2006, to be close to her daughters, all of whom lived in the Greater Boston area, and, most importantly, to help raise and support her grandchildren.  Her three granddaughters,  Caroline, Ella, and Lidia Palys, were blessed to spend hundreds of hours with Grandma, who loved them with a fierceness that is unparalleled. They were the joy of her life.  She also lavished attention on Cassie and Copper, the family dogs.

Desiring a less urban environment, Carol moved from Arlington to Concord in 2007, where she lived until 2020. During those years, she focused on helping her daughter Meg care for her grandchildren. In 2020, she experienced a stroke that resulted in partial paralysis.  With her family's assistance, she moved to an assisted living facility. Carol was very grateful to live at Youville Place, a warm and caring Catholic community in Lexington, MA, from 2022 until her death. While there, Carol befriended many of her aides and their families, whom she worried and cared about like they were her own kids.  She also appreciated the love and caring of the Youville nuns, and the companionship of the many wonderful residents and staff.

Carol is survived by her beloved sister, Jacqueline Signori, of Fairfield IA, and her partner Jeffrey Fitz-Randolph; her daughter, Elizabeth Keliher and her husband, Donald Place of Pelham, NH, and their children Evan and Jillian; her daughter Anne Keliher and her partner David O'Connell of Brookline, MA, and her daughter Margaret Palys and her husband Michael of Lexington, MA, and their three children, Caroline, Ella, and Lidia.

The family is very grateful to Carol's aides for their devoted care, including Gessica, Julie, Carol, and Ellen.

Services will be private. For those who wish to express sympathy, the family requests that remembrance be made in the form of contributions to Youville Place, in Carol's name.  Youville Place, 10 Pelham Rd. Lexington, MA  02421, or online at www.youvilleassistedliving.org/ways-to-give.