YARMOUTH – Carol (Duplessie) Willman, 94, died peacefully at Gosnell Hospice Home on March 30, 2023, with her daughter Barbara at her side.

Carol was married to Eugene Stevens Willman for 61 years, who predeceased her by exactly seven years to the day. Carol and Gene had one daughter, Barbara Willman Johnson, who survives Carol and resides locally. Carol is also survived by one cherished grandson, Benjamin Seth Johnson (married to Elle Johnson), one beloved great-granddaughter, Amelia Grace Johnson and many much-loved nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Carol was the loving daughter of Marie Clark Duplessie and Orville Benjamin Duplessie, the second child of four children born to Marie and Orville. Carol was predeceased by her older sister, Marie Duplessie Perates and younger brother, Martin Duplessie, with her youngest brother, Walter Duplessie from Windham surviving her. Family was everything to Carol and her immense love was felt in so many ways by all her family members, having always made it a priority to keep in contact through visits, phone calls, emails or social media.

Carol was born May 8, 1928, attended Portland schools and graduated in 1947 from Deering High School. She actually attended her 70th high school reunion in 2017.

After high school, Carol worked as a medical receptionist where she enjoyed reading medical journals in the down times at the medical office. She also worked at Sullivan Photo where she started dating the love of her life, Gene. They were married in 1955 and built their home in Yarmouth in 1958, where they raised their daughter, Barbara.

Carol devoted her life to her beloved family, spreading love and positivity to all. She loved nothing better than to have her home filled with family and friends, often sitting at the kitchen table drinking diet Coke, chatting, playing games or creating art. Carol was an amazing mother, always sharing her zest for life and love with her daughter and her friends. Carol always maintained a loving and welcoming home life, devoting her life to her husband Gene, daughter Barbara, extended family and friends.

While raising her family Carol worked for years at local pharmacies, enjoying her love of helping others through her work. Carol’s other perhaps not-so-well-known talents included artist, poet, Scrabble expert, dancer and singer. Her home was filled with her beautiful acrylic, pastel and charcoal paintings, some of which she has shared with friends and family. It was in her midlife that she began writing poetry late at night when all was quiet, a way for her to process her feelings it seemed. Anyone who knew Carol knew she was a night owl, often staying up into the wee hours of the morning playing online Scrabble and other word games, or cruising Facebook.

Her talents also included her beautiful voice and natural ability to harmonize, having sung in a church choir for a period of time. She told stories of lying in bed with her sister Marie as children, singing themselves to sleep by harmonizing with one another. Family gatherings were always filled with music and laughter with Carol and sister Marie singing, their two brothers on guitar and keyboard and their father on slide trombone. Daughter Barbara remembers watching both Carol and Gene cutting up the dance floor so gracefully, doing the jitterbug, during wedding receptions. Carol’s talents were many and widespread and she left her mark on so many.

Carol’s retirement years were devoted to caring for her beloved Gene and spending time with her daughter Barbara, watching grandson Ben and idolizing great-granddaughter Amelia. Carol shared very special bonds with her husband, daughter, grandson and great-granddaughter. She created many special memories for them to hold dearly throughout the rest of their lives, whether it be celebrating holidays together, laughing together, engaging in lively conversations with her quick wit and great sense of humor, or creating art together at the kitchen table. Great-granddaughter Amelia remembers her “Baba” for playing many games with her and always wanting to have “good guys” in the game, reflecting her innate good nature. Grandson Ben reflects on his grandmother’s ability to have accepted people from all walks of life and her ability to always see the good in all people. Carol shared her love in so many ways which will stay with her immediate and extended family forever.

Carol and her family wish to thank and will be eternally grateful for the loving care given to her in the last years of her life, provided in her home by her friends and caregivers, Laurie Small, Carol Nelson and Karen McKenna, as well as the amazing employees from Hospice of Southern Maine.

A celebration of Carol’s amazing life will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 4 at Lindquist Funeral Home, 1 Mayberry Lane in Yarmouth. Facemasks or shields would be much appreciated by the family during the service to avoid possible spread of Covid 19.

Please visit http://www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to sign Carol’s online guest book.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be sent to

Hospice of Southern Maine or Gosnell Memorial Hospice House,

390 US Route 1,

Scarborough, ME 04074, whose employees provided such loving, respectful and gracious care for Carol.

Copy the Story Link