Carolyn A. Pargeon, 89 of Lancaster passed away at Ephrata Manor on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Born in Johnstown, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Renwick Glen and Mildred Burdette Adams. She was the beloved wife of Fred H. Pargeon for over 67 years.
Carolyn was truly a gracious Christian lady. She loved people and was always reaching out to them. To know Carolyn was to love her. She was an active lady, always doing, for her family or for the community.
Carolyn was a great baker. James Beard was her inspiration for baking all the bread, rolls, or sweets the family wanted. Friends benefited from her generosity with her cooking and baking. She often won prizes at fairs and craft shows for her baking and her counted cross stitching. She always had a counted cross stitch project working. In her younger years, she loved to cook and entertain friends with intimate dinners. She loved making certain the table was properly set, the food well prepared and well presented.
Carolyn volunteered at Lancaster General Health for over 12 years. She loved meeting and greeting the families of the patients. Many responded positively to her love and caring with letters of appreciation sent to the hospital. She served as co-president of her downtown Lancaster Old Town Neighborhood association. For several years she was Judge of Elections for the neighborhood precinct. She also served on the Board of the Downtowner's Association.
Another of her passions was her genealogy research. She traced her family to the early Pilgrim settlement in Massachusetts. She and her beloved Fred traveled all over northeastern United States visiting libraries, historical societies, government facilities, and cemeteries. One revolutionary soldier forebear was found buried under a farmer's woodpile in upstate New York. Some of her family was involved in the manufacture of the first plate glass made in the U.S. Her organization and presentation of her research is outstanding and actually a joy to look at. She loved sharing it with extended family.
Prior to moving to Lancaster, she volunteered for many years in the children's section of The Radnor Memorial Library in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania. Young children were special to her. It was in Radnor she taught Pre-K Nursery School and worked in various childcare centers. Prior to leaving to raise her three sons (the real pride of her life), she taught second grade in the Worthington, Ohio schools.
She found great joy in her service with PEO Sisterhood, a philanthropic educational organization. She began with service in the Philadelphia area and continued in Lancaster after her move here. In addition to all the local chapter offices, she was also a Pennsylvania state chairman of one of the organization's scholarship programs.
Her last years were difficult for her. Due to arthritis and major spinal issues, she lost her mobility and use of her hands. But she soldiered on and continued to spread her love and good cheer up to the end. Her life's closing chapter was at Ephrata Manor. She loved the staff there and enjoyed interacting with them. They took excellent care of her through her final time here on earth, showering her with love.
She will be a blessed addition to Heaven. Carolyn will be missed dearly by her husband, Fred and sons, Jeffrey A. Pargeon of Philadelphia, Steven C. Pargeon of Pottstown and Douglas H. (Rita) Pargeon of Philadelphia. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Sara, Emma, Benjamin and Maxwell and her brother, Robert G. Adams of Medina, OH. She was preceded in death by her sister Patricia Piper, by only 4 hours.
Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend Carolyn's memorial service on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 11 AM from the Wayside Presbyterian Church, 600 Stoney Battery Road, Landisville, PA 17538 with Rev. Dr. Steven Fritz officiating. Friends will be received at the church on Friday from 10:30 AM to 11 AM and following the service. Interment will be held in the Church's Memorial Gardens.
No flowers please. If you wish, you can make a memorial donation in Carolyn's name to Wayside Presbyterian Church, or to the PEO Organization at: www.PEOInternational.org.
For other information, please call 717-393-1776 or to submit an online condolence visit: www.melaniebscheidfh.com
Melanie B. Scheid
Funeral Directors & Cremation Services
Lancaster & Conestoga
A living tribute »
