Caroline Oconnell
When I was growing up, my Aunt Carolyn seemed so chic and interesting. Later I realized that we shared a love of the French culture, current affairs, and gourmet coffee. I admired the tradition she and my mom had of exchanging books as gifts. A few years ago, Carolyn gave a lovely small book about Van Gogh (in French).
We shared many family visits in Berkeley – a memorable one for Grandpa’s BD weekend in the Bay Area (we had a dinner party at the Marine Club and spent another afternoon at Carolyn’s lovely Berkeley home). In later years, I drove my mom and brother up for visits. When we had a memorial for mom at the Sausalito bench (photo posted), Carolyn and David and Trulie joined us there and for a big family dinner afterward. I saw Carolyn numerous occasions on my own when I was in the Bay Area -- we had great talks and reminisced about family history (photo posted of our coffee at her favorite Berkeley hangout).
Carolyn was a role model as an independent woman of her generation, exceling at her career as an innovative therapist, and always staying in touch with family – being supportive and sharing family news on Facebook. Her memory and infectious laugh live on.
[The other two photos are from more than sixty years ago; it looks like Grandma Merrill hired a professional photographer for both of them. The Merrill family and a separate one of three generations of Merrill/Hulme women.]
Caroline Claire O'Connell
