Carolyn K. Tommins

Mrs. Carolyn K. Tommins, of Fairfield, CT, formerly of Rockville Centre, NY, Ocean Ridge, FL and Rosendale, NY, passed away peacefully at her home on August 5, 2017, surrounded by family after a long illness. She was pre-deceased by her husband of 61 years, John F Tommins Sr.
She was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn on April 29, 1929, where she lived until moving to Rockville Centre in high school. She was the daughter of John Schwint and Caroline (nee Tjarks) and loving stepfather Edmund J. Keating. She is survived by her 4 children and their spouses: John Jr. (Carmel) of Thornton, CO; James (Trish); Carolyn Whalen (Bill); and William (Paula), all of Fairfield, as well as 11 grandchildren- Erin, Marie, Rose , Katie, Jamie, Patrick, Michael, William, Thomas, Madeleine, Mia, and 5 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Elizabeth Keating of Lake Worth, FL, and brother Kenneth Schwint of St. Petersburg.
A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she enjoyed family, fashion, antiquing, and dancing with her husband, Jack. She relished the 40+ summer seasons and friends at Sun & Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach, NY, and fall foliage trips to her family's country home in upstate New York. With Jack, she learned to play golf and tennis, while introducing him to snow skiing and ice skating. Their annual visit to see Jack and Carmel and her granddaughters in Colorado was always special and anticipated, as was the winter trek to their Florida home after retirement. Carolyn was also a dedicated parishioner at Our Lady of Assumption in Fairfield, and in her former home of Rockville Centre, at St. Agnes Cathedral. She was most proud and honored to be the chairperson of a successful annual St. Agnes Bishop's Appeal fundraising effort in the 1970's and involved in the school's Mother's Club with her school-aged children. Prior to marriage, she was a scholarship graduate of the Tobe- Coburn School of Fashion Merchandising, and worked as a buyer for the Stern Brothers Department Store in New York City. During that time and her youth, she traveled to Europe, Cuba, Canada, and across the US. With that experience, she was very fond of telling all her grandchildren to "see America first".
The family also wishes to thank Judith, Mrs. Tommins's caregiver of more than two years, for her companionship, devotion and kindness.
Spear-Miller Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Family visitation will be Tuesday, August 15th from 5 to 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of the Assumption in Fairfield on Wednesday, August 16th. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, or Sticks For Soldiers, Inc. For more information, www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com