Carolyn Preece

Carolyn Preece, (81) of Fairhaven passed away Thursday, March 2, 2023 at St. Luke’s Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Boston and grew up in Brighton and Dorchester.  Carolyn graduated from Boston City Hospital School of Nursing and worked as a Registered Nurse for almost 50 years until her retirement in the early 2000’s. She married Kenneth Montgomery in 1964 and they had six children together. They eventually divorced but remained lifelong friends, always putting the needs of their children first. She and her siblings even attended Ken’s second wedding. Carolyn permanently relocated with her children to the New Bedford area in the early 1980’s where most of them still live today. Despite having a house full of kids and oftentimes limited means, her children’s friends were always welcome and her home always open. When her grandchildren were born, she became simply know to everyone as “G.” She was a life-long fan of the Boston Red Sox and instilled her love of baseball in her children and grandchildren. She especially loved listening to games on the radio and had a fondness for British television. Carolyn was a voracious reader of literature and lover of all animals wild or domestic and would feed or befriend any creature that showed up at her doorstep. She was a charitable person, often going without if it meant being able to help her family or a child or animal in need. Her empathy was expansive, and she had a hard time reconciling all the sadness in the world and would often feel overwhelmed by it. Carolyn was beloved by her siblings and revered by the many medical professionals she worked with over the years. She was happiest just having a conversation with or spending time with any of her children or grandchildren.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents Douglas Preece and Mary (Bertsch) Preece as well as her ex-husband Kenneth Montgomery. She is survived by her six children, Virginia Montgomery of NM, Carolyn Metivier and her partner Steven Brum of New Bedford, Kristin Montgomery of Dartmouth, Kenneth Montgomery and his wife Leslie of Acushnet, Terence Montgomery of Fairhaven and Paula Montgomery and her husband James Jauch of Dartmouth; her grandchildren Ian, Stefan, and Chelsea Metivier, Adam and Aaron Araujo, Amelia Montgomery and her great grandson Julian Sanchez; her siblings Paula McGowan and her partner Bill Lariviere of New Bedford, Janet LePage and her husband Butch of Rochester, Stephen Preece and his wife Susan of Mattapoisett, and Diane Tomlinson and her husband Donald of FL as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

As per her wishes she is being cremated and a small private memorial will be held in her honor. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Children’s International, ASPCA or UNICEF.