Obituary for Carol Gene Heald (Creamer)
Carol G. Heald, 67, of Strafford, NH, passed away on February 15, 2022, at home surrounded by her family.
Carol was born in Norfolk, VA on May 8, 1954, the daughter of Captain John J. and Gloria (Atkinson) Creamer. As part of a Navy family, she moved frequently and built community wherever she landed. She was proud of her Navy heritage and enjoyed cheering on the midshipmen in the Army Navy Game each year.
She returned to the United States to pursue her education at the University of New Hampshire, first earning a bachelor’s degree in social work and then later returning for a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. Shortly after graduating from UNH, she met her future husband Tom, a fellow social worker at a youth group home in Concord, NH. Carol and Tom bonded over a shared commitment to service and love of family.
Carol had a deep passion for helping others, which fueled a career of more than forty years serving children and families across New Hampshire. She worked as a marriage and family therapist at Waypoint NH (previously Child and Family Services of New Hampshire) and Great Bay Mental Health Associates. She counseled students at Beech Street School in Manchester and families at Strafford County Head Start. A young student at Beech Street school summed her up well, describing her as “a strong woman who carried a great big bag of love.” Carol was a member and past treasurer of the New Hampshire chapter of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Together with her dear colleague, Kay Sidway, Carol facilitated the Building Blocks program at The Children’s Place and the New Hampshire State Prison, helping individuals gain the practical skills to be an engaged and effective parent. At home, she flourished as a mother to her three children, Andrew, Margaret, and Emma, building everlasting bonds that continued long into their adult lives.
With an early life marked by frequent relocation, Carol savored the opportunity to put down roots with her husband, Tom, and raise their family in the town of Strafford, where they lived for nearly forty years. She volunteered at Strafford School, led the local Girl Scout troop, and assisted with youth sports and other activities around town. She was an active member of the Bow Lake Camp Owners Association and the Strafford Democrats. She cherished the close-knit community of Strafford and the vibrant assembly of summer residents at Bow Lake.
She was predeceased by her parents, Captain John J. and Gloria (Atkinson) Creamer. She is survived by her husband, Tom; three children and their spouses, Andrew and Julie Heald of Westborough, MA, Margaret and Kevin Buckley of Dallas, TX, and Emma and Jared Meddles of Pataskala, OH. Carol treasured being a nana and was adored by her six grandchildren, Brandon, Evan, Lucas and Avery Heald and Logan and Cassidy Meddles. She is also survived by her sister, Kathryne Brosnan of Nottingham, NH, and a community of friends in Strafford and beyond.
Visiting hours are on Monday, February 21 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the Purdy Memorial Chapel (Lee, NH). A memorial service will be held on May 7 at the Bow Lake Baptist Church (Strafford, NH) with a reception following at the Bow Lake Grange Hall. In accordance with Carol’s wishes, a fund has been established in her memory at Waypoint NH to support children and youth across New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Waypoint NH fund or Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Carol was born in Norfolk, VA on May 8, 1954, the daughter of Captain John J. and Gloria (Atkinson) Creamer. As part of a Navy family, she moved frequently and built community wherever she landed. She was proud of her Navy heritage and enjoyed cheering on the midshipmen in the Army Navy Game each year.
She returned to the United States to pursue her education at the University of New Hampshire, first earning a bachelor’s degree in social work and then later returning for a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. Shortly after graduating from UNH, she met her future husband Tom, a fellow social worker at a youth group home in Concord, NH. Carol and Tom bonded over a shared commitment to service and love of family.
Carol had a deep passion for helping others, which fueled a career of more than forty years serving children and families across New Hampshire. She worked as a marriage and family therapist at Waypoint NH (previously Child and Family Services of New Hampshire) and Great Bay Mental Health Associates. She counseled students at Beech Street School in Manchester and families at Strafford County Head Start. A young student at Beech Street school summed her up well, describing her as “a strong woman who carried a great big bag of love.” Carol was a member and past treasurer of the New Hampshire chapter of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Together with her dear colleague, Kay Sidway, Carol facilitated the Building Blocks program at The Children’s Place and the New Hampshire State Prison, helping individuals gain the practical skills to be an engaged and effective parent. At home, she flourished as a mother to her three children, Andrew, Margaret, and Emma, building everlasting bonds that continued long into their adult lives.
With an early life marked by frequent relocation, Carol savored the opportunity to put down roots with her husband, Tom, and raise their family in the town of Strafford, where they lived for nearly forty years. She volunteered at Strafford School, led the local Girl Scout troop, and assisted with youth sports and other activities around town. She was an active member of the Bow Lake Camp Owners Association and the Strafford Democrats. She cherished the close-knit community of Strafford and the vibrant assembly of summer residents at Bow Lake.
She was predeceased by her parents, Captain John J. and Gloria (Atkinson) Creamer. She is survived by her husband, Tom; three children and their spouses, Andrew and Julie Heald of Westborough, MA, Margaret and Kevin Buckley of Dallas, TX, and Emma and Jared Meddles of Pataskala, OH. Carol treasured being a nana and was adored by her six grandchildren, Brandon, Evan, Lucas and Avery Heald and Logan and Cassidy Meddles. She is also survived by her sister, Kathryne Brosnan of Nottingham, NH, and a community of friends in Strafford and beyond.
Visiting hours are on Monday, February 21 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the Purdy Memorial Chapel (Lee, NH). A memorial service will be held on May 7 at the Bow Lake Baptist Church (Strafford, NH) with a reception following at the Bow Lake Grange Hall. In accordance with Carol’s wishes, a fund has been established in her memory at Waypoint NH to support children and youth across New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Waypoint NH fund or Dana Farber Cancer Institute.