Carole Ann (Zalenski) Lawrence passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, March 9, 2026-her 84th birthday. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on March 9, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Flora (Trigueiro) Zalenski and Frank S. Zalenski.

Carole retired from the New Bedford Public School System in 2002, where she worked as a paraprofessional and served as a paraprofessional union representative. Over the course of her life she also worked at the Registry of Deeds, Community Pharmacy, The Nest Restaurant, and as a secretary in the maternity ward at St. Luke's Hospital.

A lifelong resident of New Bedford, Carole spent many of her retirement years in Port Charlotte, Florida, with her beloved husband, Denis. Both retired in the same year and enjoyed fulfilling many of their bucket-list dreams together, including driving cross-country in their motor home with their cherished pups, Molly and Dylan.

Carole was especially proud of her husband Denis, who served the people of New Bedford as a State Representative and City Councilor. They were an incredible team. Her love and support for Denis often meant celebrating wedding anniversaries on election days-but she would not have had it any other way.

Carole had a passion for knitting, especially sweaters, hats, and scarves for family and friends. She was also an avid craft card designer, meticulously creating beautiful handmade greeting cards that became treasured keepsakes for those who received them. Carole was especially grateful for having been a twenty-eight year breast cancer survivor.

She will be remembered as the family's social butterfly. Carole loved life and loved people, always stopping to talk with anyone she met, even if just in passing. Her family often joked that she collected friends the way others collect coins. She especially treasured the friendships she built both in Port Charlotte and in New Bedford.

Family meant everything to Carole. She was a devoted and loving mother whose care for her sons knew no bounds. But her greatest joy in life was being "Grammie" to her grandchildren. She reveled in every moment spent with them, and they were truly her pride and joy.

Carole was predeceased by her beloved husband, Denis. She is survived by her three sons: Denis Jr. and his wife Deborah, David and his husband James, and Dean and his wife Luci. She also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren: Denis Robert and his wife Mary, Sarah Lawrence, Nicholas Lawrence and his husband Ardi, Hannah and her husband Chris, and Patrick Lawrence and his fiancée Chelsea Gomes.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Sacred Heart Nursing Home for the incredible love, compassion, and friendship shown to them and their mother.

Carole's warmth, kindness, and joy for life will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Her Funeral will be held on Thursday, March 19th at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by her Funeral Mass at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church at 10 AM. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday March 18 th from 4-7 PM. For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com. To watch the Mass livestream visit https://c.streamhoster.com/embed/media/WIsdZC/qT7J6LGsOfY/EIBXBisAOFw_5?preview=1
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Susan G. Komen www.komen.org or Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org