Carolyn F. Nemec

Carolyn Ford Nemec, 87, passed away on October 6, 2025 at Garden Spot Village (GSV) where she had been a resident since 2005.

Carolyn was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Charles Nemec.

She is survived by her two daughters, Tracy Heim (Jeffery) of West Chester, PA and Tara Evans (Scott) of St. Louis, MO and four grandchildren: William Evans (Alyssa) of Munich, Germany; Aleana Evans of St. Louis, MO; Samantha Zaggy (Matt) of St. Louis, MO; and Joel Evans of Cincinnati, OH. She had one great-granddaughter, Naomi Rose Zaggy.

Carolyn was born in Camden, NJ, on September 20, 1938. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and worked as a secretary for several years for Public Service Electric and Gas. She met Charles (Chuck) Nemec and they married on April 25, 1959. They lived and raised their daughters in Haddon Heights, NJ. Carolyn was a full-time homemaker, volunteered at her daughters’ schools, was a Brownie and 4-H leader, and was an active member at Haddon Heights United Methodist Church. She organized many weekend camping trips and one six week camping trip across the USA for her family.

In the 1970s, Carolyn returned to the work force as a secretary for several real estate firms in Haddonfield, NJ. She and Chuck retired in 1993 and moved to a log cabin house they built on Lake Wynonah, Schuylkill County, PA. They were members of First United Methodist Church in Schuylkill Haven, and spent a lot of time gardening and boating on the lake with their family.

Carolyn enjoyed big band music and was especially fond of Vaughn Monroe’s band. When she was 15 years old, Carolyn became the president of Monroe’s East Coast fan club. He encouraged her to write to Vince Paterson, Monroe’s Australian fan club president. They began a correspondence that led to a life-long friendship. Carolyn and Chuck traveled twice to Australia to visit their close friends, the Patersons.

Carolyn and Chuck moved to Garden Spot Village in 2005. Carolyn was known as “The Crab Lady” because she hosted many dinners which benefitted the GSV Benevolence Fund which featured her famous crab cakes. She was a member of the GSV Library Committee and worked in the GSV mailroom for many years.

Throughout her life, Carolyn enjoyed cooking and baking, sewing, reading, going to the movies, spending time with her family and friends, practicing her faith, eating lobster and crabs, going to NYC to see musicals, and, recently, Face Timing with her great granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held on March 28, 2026, at 11 am at the Chapel at Garden Spot Village, New Holland, PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Garden Spot Village Library.

The Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland, PA, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences and memories may be posted at www.groffeckenroth.com.