Carol K. Conklin, loving wife, sister, mother, aunt, cousin, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, teacher, and “plumheart,” passed away at her home in Clinton after a brief illness on Nov. 6. During her final weeks, days, and hours on this earth, Carol was surrounded by the love, prayers, and support of her beloved family and friends and sustained by her trust and understanding of God’s eternal love.
Carol was a lifelong learner, educator, and artist. Raised in a loving Polish American family in New Britain, she graduated from Teachers College of Connecticut and taught in the Clinton, New Britain, and Old Saybrook public schools for several years in the 1950s and early 1960s before bringing her talents as an educator and woman of faith to the religious education program at St. Mary’s of the Visitation as a coordinator and director. After her retirement from St. Mary’s in 1996, Carol enjoyed painting, drawing, and photography, studying Spanish, traveling, and spending time with friends and family, especially her beloved grandchildren. Carol was deeply devoted to her family.
She leaves behind her beloved husband of 65 years, Walter; children Michael (Mary) Conklin, Kristin Conklin, and Stacey Russell (Stephen); grandchildren Sarah Peterson (Jeff), Grace Conklin (Denis Vlahovic), Ross Conklin (Michelle Funk), Geoffrey Conklin, Tyler Kynn (Jamie), Carl Moon (Mimi Hacking), Ally Russell (Luke McCarthy), and Michael Russell; and great-grandchildren Lila and Flynn Peterson, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, all of whom she cherished. She joins her mother, Mary Gawelek Kulak, and father, Joseph S. Kulak; brothers Joe and Rob Kulak; and sister Leone Griffith, who all preceded her in death to their new life.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, at Swan Funeral Home, 80 East Main Street, Clinton. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation, 54 Grove Street, Clinton. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carol’s memory to St. Mary’s Church, the Henry Carter Hull Library of Clinton, or Masonicare Home Health and Hospice.
