Carolyn Fenton Hankel

HANKEL---Carolyn Fenton Hankel, born December 30, 1943, in Worcester, MA, passed away peacefully while under Hospice care on November 24, 2020, due to declining health with her loving family surrounding her. Her parents Dennis A. Fenton and Rita McGauley Fenton were already in heaven waiting to embrace her with open arms. She served as a Camp Green Eyrie counselor and was active in the Montachusett Girl Scouts Council. Carolyn graduated from Our Lady of Angels Elementary School, Ascension Grammar High School (class of ‘61), and Worcester State Teachers College (class of ’65). She taught in Worcester, MA, for two years followed by teaching for the Department of Defense on Midway Island in 1967-68 where she met the love of her life, Johnny Hankel, whom she dated for three months and married on February 16, 1969. (Johnny told a Chief who worked for him that he was going to marry her four hours after they met in the Navy Exchange). She also taught in Yokota, Japan, Milton, FL, Selfridge AFB, MI, Orange Park, FL, and then at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Jacksonville, FL, for 16 years. She was an extremely devoted Christian woman and devout Catholic and was always extremely generous with her time as she volunteered for Hospice, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Anastasia throughout the years. She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Johnny William Hankel; her three daughters: Teresa Carlson (Thomas), Kristina Douberly (Lamar), and Jamie-Lyn Lewis (Jim); and her three brothers: Jack, Tim, and Dennis. She was also blessed with seven fantastic grandchildren: Erin (24), Joshua (19), Jade (19), Jacob (17), Andrew (15), Alex (13), and Johnny (6). She had too many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends to list as she was such a giving and kind woman known for her unconditional love and her ability to make each person she encountered feel like the most important person in the world. A Funeral Mass in celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday December 4, 2020 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1649 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, FL 32073. A memorial gathering of family members and friends will be held on Thursday evening December 3, 2020 in the chapel of Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 111 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, FL 32073. All persons in attendance of her services is asked to please be mindful of distancing guidelines and are strongly encouraged to wear a protective mask. As spoken by Carolyn, “I lived a wonderful life as a Navy wife and mother and would not change a thing. I have the best husband and wonderful girls. What more could a woman ask God for?” The family encourages friends and loved ones to share their favorite story about Carolyn on her Tribute Wall at www.jacksonvillememorygardens.com.