SCARBOROUGH – Carol S. Rancourt, 72, died Feb. 3, 2021, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House here after suffering a stroke. She was born in Portland on Dec. 29, 1948, the daughter of Louis J. and Dorothy E. (Demont) Rancourt. She moved with her family to Scarborough in 1952, where she lived throughout the remainder of her life.

She graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 1971, and later earned an MSED in Adult Education at USM and did additional graduate work at Ethel Percy Andrus School of Gerontology at the University of California, Pennsylvania State University, and Syracuse University.

A licensed social worker, she served as director of the Tri-County Western Older Citizens Council’s RSVP program, then went on to work for Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) for 30 years, where she helped create the Human Resources department and form the Medicare program, which counsels thousands of Mainers on their options under the federal health program.

She herself became an expert in Medicare plans and helped hundreds of Southern Maine seniors select the best plans for their needs. She was also instrumental in forming the Vet to Vet program at SMAA and served as a member of the first board of directors when the program became an independent nonprofit, Vet to Vet Maine, in 2018. Carol served the last six years of her career at SMAA as Volunteer Services director, overseeing nearly 700 volunteers serving York and Cumberland County communities.

In 1981 she adopted her daughter, Katherine, then 4, and devoted herself to parenthood, leading a Girl Scout troop, serving as Sunday school teacher at Black Point Congregational Church, and becoming one of the founders of the Scarborough Special Needs PTA. To spend more time with Katherine, Carol switched careers temporarily and taught social studies at Sanford High School and later worked as a paralegal for her brother, Craig J. Rancourt, Esq., in Biddeford. She rejoined SMAA in 1999.

An ardent supporter of the Democratic Party, she was an active member of the town’s Democratic Committee and served as member (nine years) and chair (two years) of the Scarborough Board of Education and member for nine years of the Scarborough Town Council, serving as council chair in 2009. She was a founder of the Scarborough High School Alumni Scholarship Fund and served on its board for 20 years. Formed in 1999 to honor a classmate who died of cancer, the group awarded thousands of dollars to Scarborough High School seniors. She continued her service on Scarborough’s Transportation and Senior Committees through retirement.

A history buff, Carol was a trivia expert extraordinaire when it came to her hometown of Scarborough. She was a fierce competitor in Grace Project’s Trivia Bee with fellow members of the “Wise Witches” team, Debbie Carr and Kathy Heggeman, for several years.

An expert knitter, she created Christmas stockings—masterpieces in yarn—for every child in her extended family and children of friends as well. She was an avid reader and enjoyed travel, touring Europe in her early years and spending time at her vacation home in Florida in later years. Carol, along with longtime friends Susan Gold, Kitty Chadbourne, Sharon Prosser, Suzan Nelson, and Karen Leary, was a proud member of the Ladies’ Sewing Circle and Terrorist Society.

She possessed a sharp wit and could find humor even in the direst situations, an attribute which endeared her to a wide circle of friends and helped her through life’s challenges, including a bout with cancer early in her life and other health challenges later. With love and compassion, Carol cared for her mother during the last years of her life.

Her grandson, Orion Chesley, became the love of Carol’s life in her final years. The two were inseparable, and she became his teacher, playmate, and companion as well as his beloved “Gigi.” She cherished every moment spent with him.

Carol “S,” as she was known fondly to friends, is survived by her daughter, Katherine Rancourt Chesley, and her husband, Raymond Chesley; grandson, Orion Chesley; brother, Craig Rancourt, and his partner, Sharon Sevigny; cousins Linda Lambert, Judith Miller, and Steve Sprague and their families; and many loving friends.

Arrangements will be handled by Hobbs Funeral Home, Scarborough. Online condolence messages can be submitted at the funeral home’s website, http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com/obits.

Vet to Vet Maine will host a remembrance Zoom call on March 5. Those who wish to participate can contact sgold@vet2vetmaine.org for details.

A spring interment will be conducted at the family plot at Black Point Cemetery, with a celebration of Carol’s life to be held after danger from the pandemic has passed.

Memorial contributions may be made to

Vet to Vet Maine and the Animal Rescue League of Greater Portland.