Obituary of Caroline E. Souviney

Caroline Eleanor (Jaques) Souviney, 94, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2025, with her children by her side.

Born October 13, 1930, in Bangor, she was the daughter of John S. Jaques and Harriet Eleanor (McCrum) Jaques, and she grew up in Portland. Her husband James, the great love of her life, predeceased her in 1991. They had five children together.  Her only sibling, brother John F. Jaques, died in 2006.

Carol never hesitated to stand up for herself or to speak out for others. She was a four-year member of Portland High School’s Championship Debate team, graduating in 1948. She earned a scholarship to Bates College as the Best Speaker in the 1948 Maine State debate tournament. She attended Bates College, Colby College, and Thomas College.

During the early years of her marriage and motherhood, she led a crusade to replace the old, wooden Presumpscot School in Portland because of the great fire risk it presented. Her efforts were rewarded with the opening of the new school in 1962. After moving to Winslow in 1966, Carol worked at Thomas College for 21 years and was very active in the Maine Business and Professional Women's Association. In 1990, through the BPW, she initiated the Maine Women's Hall of Fame, into which Senator Margaret Chase Smith became the first inductee. Carol was also active as a literacy volunteer, a docent for the Colby College Museum of Art, board member of the Senior College of the University of Maine at Augusta, and a lector at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Waterville.

World travel and learning about other cultures were important parts of Carol's life. She and her husband Jim drove across the country to San Francisco and traveled by train to Western Canada.  After Jim's death, she participated in the Elderhostel program for ten years in the US and abroad, and she also traveled independently and with friends to Australia, New Zealand, Greece, France, England, the Dominican Republic, and the Canary Islands.

Carol is survived by her five children: daughters Janet Roderick (Peter) of Rome, Judith Souviney (Peter Michaud) of Brunswick, Ellen Souviney (Kevin Mizner) of Pittston; sons James Souviney (Janice) of Winslow, and Brian Souviney (Rebecca) of Winslow. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Jeffrey Sirois, Megan Smith, Sam Roderick, Luke Small, Julia Small, Kathryn Souviney, Nicholas Souviney, and Cody Souviney; 16 great-grandchildren: Alex, Hannah, and MacKenzie Sirois; Elizabeth, Ava, Evan, and Wyatt Smith; Paige Camp; Hunter McDaniel; Malachi Cusano; Nixon and Jaclyn Souviney; Cooper and Bethany Blakley; Colton and Brantley Souviney; and one great-great-grandchild, Ellianna Duprey.  She was also “Aunt Carol” to her brother’s children: John Jaques, Mary Jo Jaques Daigle, and Kathy Jaques Peary.

Carol is also survived by her long-time friends Pauline Turner, Jean McCormick, and Betty-Jane Meader, with whom she shared many adventures over the years.  

The service will take place at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Waterville on Saturday, March 22, at 1:00 p.m. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Carol's name to Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec, or the Humane Society Waterville Area.