Carol Diana Kalicki

Carol Diana Kalicki, 87 years young, of Dennis, Ma., passed away the morning of Sunday, May 28, 2023, in her sleep in Hingham nursing care.

Carol lived a beautiful life, filled with strong, loving and meaningful family relationships and longtime loyal friendships. She felt lucky and blessed for her upbringing and the close connections she shared with her loved ones. She treasured these individuals and marked all of their special dates in her essential datebook, and called them, on an actual telephone, to hear their voices and talk about anything and everything they cared about.

Her greatest job throughout her life was to love. To give love, receive love, enjoy love. God gave her the most amazing capacity for loving, selflessly and unconditionally. She had a strong Catholic faith which sustained her through many difficult losses in her life, yet gave her the capacity to keep her heart open to the daily joys of living.

Her first greatest passion and purpose was her family, who delighted in her presence. She made every occasion special, brighter, more fun, more exuberant, more meaningful. She was completely and absolutely devoted to her only child Nicole, who adored her right back in every possible way. She loved her son-in law Jeff like her own son and was totally enamored with her granddaughter Denley and smitten with her grandson Clayton. Her grand babies were the greatest joy in her life, and they cherished their Nanny in every way. She delighted in their extended family, especially Bob and Marilyn and Mignonne and their children and grandchildren who embraced her and included her in so many shared special moments over the last 20 years. Carol was at the heart of every occasion, big and small, full of humor, generosity, kindness, and so intensely loved and enjoyed.

Her next greatest passions included traveling, eating, shopping, talking, yard work, and practicing kindness. Carol was proud to be 100% Lithuanian American, and even prouder that she maintained her Brooklyn accent her whole life.

Carol was born December 20, 1935, in Brooklyn to Nellie and John Gillis. She grew up with her four-years younger sister Muriel, who was her very best friend, in  a row house with her grandmother, aunt, uncle, and cousins. Her childhood was filled with large family picnics, trips to Coney Island and a farm in Swan Lake, NY. She was surrounded by her mother and father’s sisters and children who became her friends and travel companions for life.

Carol graduated high school in Brooklyn as the top scholar in her class, then went on to secretarial school, and spent glorious years of traveling every chance she could. Then she moved from Long Island to New York City in her 20’s, and worked as the executive assistant to the Founder of Boyden Associates, a global executive search firm. She opened their Acapulco office which was a good excuse for a fabulous months long vacation in Mexico.

Carol met her best friend for life at the office, also named Carol. They shared a rare rent-controlled Park Avenue apartment and enjoyed all the glories Manhattan had to offer two beautiful single gals, most especially ice cream sundaes and Lord & Taylor.

Carol met her dashing, kind hearted husband Walter in New York and they married in 1969. They traveled extensively and enjoyed summer weekends in Fire Island. They moved to New Jersey and had an only child Nicole. Those years as a young mother were precious to her. When they moved to Florida for sunshine, Carol worked as executive assistant and office manager for the Vero Beach Dodgers, John’s Island Real Estate, Charlie Rose Architects, The Estuary property, and American Online/AOL. She was endlessly, overly proud of her daughter’s accomplishments, and saved every memento possible, including her acceptance letter to Boston College.

When Nicole ultimately moved to Boston for work, Carol spent as much time as possible visiting and getting to know her friends. She was over-the-moon when Nicole met her husband Jeff, whom she adored from day one, and relished in their engagement, wedding, and daily lives. She and Walter moved to Cape Cod to be closer to them, and fortunate to be three miles from Jeff’s parents. Her grandchildren were born after Walter passed, and she filled her time doting on them every chance possible. She cared for them as their full-time Nanny and was overjoyed to spend that time with them. They were lucky to spend countless days with her in Hingham and weekends on the Cape.

Carol is predeceased by too many loved ones, including her husband Walter J. Kalicki, her beloved sister Muriel Sammartino, and many cousins, aunts and uncles, and friends she treasured and surely greeted her in Heaven with a cold martini. Her surviving cousins Diana Burke and Debbie Liotta, and her dearest friend Carol Craig meant the world to her. Carol is also survived by her daughter, Nicole J. Bellows, son-in-law Jeff J. Bellows, granddaughter Denley (17 yrs) grandson Clayton (15 yrs), and favorite dog Bella, all from Hingham.

Carol’s Catholic funeral Mass will be held on Monday, June 5th at 10 AM at St. Paul’s Church, 147 North Street, Hingham. Her burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please do something nice for someone in her memory, or give any amount to Maddie’s Promise, which is very meaningful to her family.
Maddie’s Promise | Be the change. Find the cure. (Maddie’s Promise, Inc. is an official 501c3. EIN#: 84-3159035)