Carolyn Dole

life story

A loving mother and a good friend

A creative and open heart

About Carolyn:

Carolyn Dole, 95, of Palo Alto, California, passed away on February 20, 2022.

Carolyn Stewart was born in Los Angeles, CA to Steele Fuller Stewart and Ruth (Sawyer) Stewart on May 27, 1926. She graduated from Grinnell College in 1947 and attended the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Occupational Therapy. She married Kenneth VW Dole on June 15, 1952 in Beverly Hills, CA. Passionate about art, she took classes at Stanford and became a docent at Cantor Art Center at Stanford University.

Carolyn Dole was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth in 2014 and sister Sarah Rogers. She is survived by sons Daniel Dole (Lisa Stettler), Michael Dole (Carol Parry), and daughter Diana Dole, brother Steele Stewart (Nancy), grandchildren Lorin Dole (Kim Van Liefferinge), Galen Dole, Marlise Dole, Matthew Dole (Bianca Marrinucci), Brianna Parry (fiancé Sam Guinan-Nyhart), and step-granddaughter Mina Gibbs.

Following the death of her mother when Carolyn was 4 and subsequent events, Carolyn struggled during her early life. After reading one of Anne Wilson-Schaef’s books in the mid 1980s, she joined Wilson-Schaef’s Living in Process network and began her own journey toward recovery. For the next 35 years, she connected with many others in recovery, giving and receiving loving support. Carolyn’s wise, gentle, and accepting nature was experienced by many and will be missed.

Art and poetry were important in her life, both in her recovery and as expressions of creativity. Carolyn developed Pictopoems, combining a photograph, usually a scene from nature, with a poem. She wrote Sound From Silence A Memoir using original poetry and prose which she shared with her family and her recovery and living communities.

At Carolyn’s request, there will not be a funeral service but a celebration of life event is being planned.

Donations in Carolyn’s memory should be directed to: Living in Process; Attn: Boulder Hot Springs P.O. Box 930, Boulder, MT 59632

The family of Carolyn Dole wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the Moldaw Senior Living community, and Anne Wilson-Schaef’s Living in Process community.

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