Carol Anne (Lehmann) Pine, age 86, passed away on December 3 in West Hartford, Connecticut. A longtime resident of Norwood, Massachusetts for over 50 years, Carol was born in Boston and raised in Chelsea and Dorchester.

She was the devoted wife of Manuel William Pine of Norwood, loving mother to Glen Pine of Long Beach, California and Carrie Pine Wechsler of Glastonbury, Connecticut, and a proud and adoring grandmother to Colin, Benjamin and Sarah Wechsler. Carol was predeceased by her parents Angeline (Oldziesky) Lehmann and Anton Lehmann, and her brother Richard Lehmann. She is survived by her brother John Lehmann, of Kingston, MA as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who cherished her deeply, especially her nephew Nicholas Lehmann.

Carol attended St. Rose and St. Ambrose Schools in Boston, and was a 1956 graduate of Cardinal Cushing High School in South Boston. Among her schoolmates, Carol was known for her kindness and academic excellence. She was especially gifted in Latin, and was honored with the “Most Mary Like” award at her Catholic high school, She was a graduate of the Boston Clerical School, and worked for many years as an Executive Secretary at Garland Mills in Brockton, where she met her husband and many of her close friends. In later years, she received a certification in Costume Design from The Peabody School in Norwood. She also worked as a paraprofessional in Norwood Public Schools. A lifelong lover of learning, she went back to school in her 60s to pursue an Associate’s degree at Massasoit Community College.

Carol was a talented artist, painting beautiful portraits throughout her life. She played piano, guitar and trumpet, and had a gorgeous singing voice.

She was a beloved member of the Massachusetts theatre community, where she performed in and supported countless community theatre productions, overcoming stage fright with courage and delighting audiences. She was most often spotted on stage with Actors Collaborative and The Neponset Choral Society.

She proudly celebrated her son’s music career and her daughter’s theatrical career, traveling far and wide to attend their performances. As a grandmother, she never missed a performance, award ceremony or sporting event, driving the long drive to Connecticut over and over to smile proudly from the front row.

She loved people and their stories, striking up conversations with strangers who quickly became friends. She adored animals, filling her home with dogs, cats, birds, goats and rabbits. She loved to cook, and was an avid reader. Her home was filled with her crafts-in-progress, from needlepoint to print making to knitting, Carol was also a collector of paper dolls and traveled to many National Paper Doll conventions.

Carol lived a full and beautiful life of joy, resilience, and creativity. She will be dearly missed by all who loved her.

A private inurnment will be held in New Westwood Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held for Carol this coming June.