- Date Of Birth: August 15, 1934
- Date Of Death: March 17, 2014
- State: Maine
“Sylvia” Carolyn L’abbe (Shaw)
August 15,1934
March 17, 2014
“Sylvia” Carolyn L’abbe (Shaw), 79, of Presque Isle, died in Portland on March 17, 2014. She was born on August 15, 1934 in Fort Kent, the daughter of John and Alice (Long) L’abbe. She was valedictorian of Fork Kent High School in 1952. She then went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics at Maine Sate College, Farmington in 1956.
In the same year she began her home economics teaching career at Fort Kent High School, which is where she met her future husband. Carolyn was married in the Catholic Church in 1958. In 1964 Carolyn and her young family moved to Presque Isle. She studied and earned her Elementary Ed Teaching Certificate from University of Maine, Presque Isle while teaching Home Economics at Cunningham Middle School. She remained there until 1970. Carolyn then taught 4th grade at Pine Street Middle School until her retirement in 1993. Carolyn was an educator in the public school system for a total of 37 years. During which time she received numerous awards and recognitions for her service and teaching skills. As one of her friends wrote; “Teaching elementary school gave her such a good feeling… making sure they learned the 3R’s but also to learn to love who they were. All those that took her Home Economic classes never forgot her or could thank her enough for teaching them how to cook and sew and bring them all the pleasure they enjoy now as adults.”
During retirement Carolyn’s need to stay involved in her community led her to find several part-time jobs. She became a private math and literacy tutor, as well as a public adult education teacher. She taught cooking, knitting, crocheting, and quilting among other things. At the Aroostook Centre Mall she worked in an antique shop where she learned and developed a passion for antiques and old artifacts.
