Essex Junction, VT

Carol O. Drawbaugh ,74, of Essex Junction, passed away peacefully on July 2 at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

She was born June 18, 1950, in Montpelier, VT, the daughter of Eugene and Henrietta (LaRose) O'Connell. She graduated from Montpelier High School and Wells College in Aurora NY. She married Robert Drawbaugh in Burlington, VT, on April 28, 1984, a perfect weather day; it was said that Carol "would have it no other way". They shared forty wonderful years together with love and respect, tears and joy and all those things that make for an inseparable bond.

Carol enjoyed a forty-year professional career at the Vermont Department of Health. She worked as a microbiologist in the Public Health Laboratory, then in the Epidemiology Program and as a Federal clinical laboratory quality compliance surveyor. Carol retired in 2013 to devote more time to her other interests.

Carol was a lover of mystery novels, words, grammar and was quick to notice narrative inconsistencies and typos. Her avid reading habits kept her atop the daily crossword puzzle (always in pen) and nightly Jeopardy challenges. Carol prepared and enjoyed a wide variety of recipes and was happy to share them. Her multiple ring binders of recipes were well organized and indexed. If there existed a perfect food for Carol it would be shrimp in nearly any form.

Her numerous small gardens gave Carol a chance to nurture her love of flowers and birds. She spent a great amount of time with her perennials, sometimes enhancing them with colorful annuals, "a pop of color", where needed. Each year's blooms brought delightful differences from the previous years. Her bird feeders provided a feast for feathered friends and frustration for the squirrels. She enjoyed watching those that passed through in migration as well as those that stayed; often naming the pairs that frequented them.

Carol was an expert handcrafter-both seamstress and knitter. She spent countless hours crocheting mittens and sewing fleece hats to donate to children. She loved the challenge of finding fun and clever fabrics for the hundreds of her creations from pajamas for disadvantaged children to quilts for nieces and nephews. Creations and alterations were meticulously done for family and friends.

As much as she shared herself, Carol easily expressed her gratitude. Her thank you notes were model examples of timely appreciation. Saying thank you also through culinary creations was a delight for Carol and, of course, their recipients.

Carol contributed generously to our community with her time, energy and talents supporting youth sports organizations and scouting. Later in life she took on the role of health care proxy for her parents in their declining years.

A devoted sports enthusiast, Carol's interests ranged from ice hockey to Formula One racing. She was a long-time fan of several University of Vermont sports teams and always stayed true to her Boston Red Sox roots.

Survivors include her husband, Robert of Essex Junction, stepsons Jeffrey and wife April of Portland, OR and Andrew of Milton, VT, siblings Margaret DiStassio and husband John of Trumbull, CT, Mary Hancock (late husband Robert F.) of Westminster, VT, James O'Connell and wife Nan of Richmond, VA, and Philip O'Connell of Luxembourg, and many nieces and nephews.

Carol was grateful for the care and compassion that she experienced from a wide variety of medical staff while in the UVM Medical Center, especially those of the Medical Intensive Care Unit.

The family will hold a private service for her interment at Doty Cemetery, East Montpelier, VT. A celebration of her life for friends and family will be held later. Memorial donations may be made to COTS of Burlington or Essex Rescue of Essex Junction.