Category: Obituary: C

Mary Archibald Carrier, 88, wife of the Rev. Gaston M. Carrier, died September 14, 2008. A native of Lexington MA, she graduated from Acadia University in Nova Scotia and earned credentials as a psychiatric social worker at Simmons School of Social Work in Boston. She worked in Montreal, Chicago and Burlington VT, and volunteered with the UUSC. Never a minister’s wife but always the wife of a minister, she supported her husband’s ministry in a variety of ways. She served as DRE in Burlington VT and Danbury CT and oversaw expansion and revitalization of both RE programs. She also found time to participate in the social life of the churches. She loved the outdoors and will be remembered for decorating the sanctuary with wildflowers and other natural objects. Serving as a founding member of the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), was just one of her many contributions to the Burlington Community. She was involved in handicrafts of many types and participated in many juried shows throughout Vermont. After she retired she worked as a guide at the Shelburne Museum.

Julia Cairns, widow of the Rev. Fred Cairns, died Dec. 29, 2007 in her late 80’s. Her son Ken said, “She died peacefully at her home with her family around her. She was a great lady.” Anne Orfald wrote: “She was a lovely person who had a good life, and was relatively independent in a residence where she could sleep ’til noon if she wished, enjoyed reading, got around with a walker, could take meals in the dining room when she chose, and was happy that her daughter-in-law was on the staff of the home. According to Charles Eddis, Fred Cairns was a staunch humanist who served congregations in Needham, MA, Madison, WI, and Hamilton, ON.

The Rev. Helena P. Chapin, 68, died June 21, 2006 in Rochester, NY, of pneumonia. She earned a BA at the University of Michigan, and received an M.Ed. at the University of Maryland. She completed her Minister of Religious Education in the Independent Study Program. She was ordained in 1985 by the North Shore Unitarian of Deerfield, IL, and then served the First Parish of Framingham, MA. She also served Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church in Adelphi, MD, the First Unitarian Society of Schenectady, NY and the First Church in Belmont, MA. She later served the North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, and First Unitarian Church in Rochester, NY, from which she retired. She volunteered for Planned Parenthood, The Susan B. Anthony House, and was an advocate for seniors and animals. Survivors include her children: Edwin, Todd and Leila Chapin. A memorial service was scheduled for July 1 at the UU Church of Canandaigua.

Freda Wolfe Carnes, widow of the Rev. Paul Carnes, third President of the UUA, died September 18, 2004 in Boston. Freda married Paul following World War II, after Carnes’ release as a prisoner of war. They were parents to Paul Nathaniel, Jr., and Molly. Freda was committed to studies in education and child development, which she pursued in Cleveland, OH and Buffalo, NY. In Buffalo, she was assistant professor in the early childhood department of the State College Learning Lab. The Carneses lived in Youngstown, OH; Memphis, TN; Buffalo and Boston, where they moved when Paul was elected UUA president in 1977. Freda is survived by her children and three grandchildren. A service memorial service was held at October 2 at King’s Chapel.

The Rev. Jesse Raymond Cavileer, 87, died June 4, 2004. He held an AB from Syracuse University and and BD from Union Theological Seminary. He served congregations in Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, IL; Pittsburgh, PA (minister emeritus); Missoula, MN; Glasgow, Scotland. He was active community affairs and chaired the Civil Liberties Clearing House in Cleveland and was on the board of the ACLU in Pittsburgh. He was also active in local antipoverty programs and neighborhood alliances.