FORT ANN – Carolyn Dewey Aulicino Ouderkirk, age 75, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 24, 2025.
Carolyn was born in Massena, NY on December 13, 1949, to parents Maurice Dewey and Irene Hartford. She graduated from SUNY Potsdam in 1971, and became a teacher of French at West Point Elementary School. After leaving the teaching field, she was employed as an administrative assistant at Mako Marine, Inc., and later as office manager for Charles E. Snow, P.C.
After retirement, Carolyn and her husband moved to Fort Ann, NY, where she was active as a member of the Old Stone House Library Committee, the American Red Cross, the Fort Ann Historical Society, the Happy Bookers Club, and the Fort Ann Rotary Club. She was honored to be selected as a NYS Office of the Aging Senior Citizen for Washington County.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Harold Wereley; sister, Betsy Lee Dewey; brother, Richard Guy Dewey; and husbands Richard N. Aulicino and Eugene N. Ouderkirk.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Joan Dewey; nephew, Greggory Dewey; nieces, Tracie Titus, Kellie (Dennis) Epson, Stephanie (Brock) Badgley, and Leslie Abbett; great nieces and nephews, Stacie Ballard, Kelbie Lesko, Kyle Titus, Zackary Titus, Tyler Abbett, Austin Abbett, Casey Abbett, and Gracie Wireman; special cousins, Bill (Linda) Hartford, Fred (Sue) Hartford, and Maurice (Kathy) Hartford; and her BFF, Maureen Lemme.
With her varied background and multiple interests, Carolyn was a wonderful resource and was a “go to” person for her friends and colleagues. Always willing to lend a helping hand, Carolyn and her husband Gene worked tirelessly with the American Red Cross during Hurricane Katrina and the World Trade Center bombing, often coordinating rescue efforts.
Carolyn especially enjoyed working with school children on programs through the Old Stone House Library and was a driving force in projects with the historical society, especially in the writing and publishing of the history of the town – Fort Ann: 300 Years of History. Having the Waterfront Park in Fort Ann dedicated to her husband Gene was a great source of pride for her. As an active member of Fort Ann Rotary, she worked for many years on various projects and activities for the betterment of the entire community.
Anyone who came in contact with Carolyn soon learned that she was extremely generous, had a heart of gold and could be called upon to help out in any way she could. She possessed a “can-do” spirit and was dearly loved by her many friends. Her favorite times were spent dining out with friends, where she shared countless laughs and memories with the people she treasured. Her love of the little town where she spent her final years gave her much pleasure and contentment.
A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held in the spring. Donations in her memory may be made to the Old Stone House Library, P.O. Box 261, Fort Ann, NY 12827, or to the CBC Food Pantry, P.O. Box 245, Fort Ann, NY 12827.
Our family was very sad to hear of Carolyn’s passing! She and Gene were like another set of grandparents to our children. She was also a good friend to my grandmother and myself. She will be missed!