On Saturday, April 26, 2025, Carol Ann Fulmer passed away after a prolonged illness at Carnegie Senior Living in Princeton, NJ. At age 85, she died peacefully surrounded by her family.
Born and raised in Claremont, NH, Carol Ann was a natural caregiver. Her desire to care for others led her to Grace New Haven School of Nursing at Yale where she became known for her intellect, sensitivity, and love of poetry and language. She graduated in 1960 and began her nursing career at Yale New Haven Medical Center in New Haven, CT. Soon her adventurous spirit and thirst for new experiences took her to Denver, CO, where she spent some time at the University of Colorado Medical Center doing research for the National Institutes of Health. In 1962 Carol Ann returned to the East Coast to accept the position of head nurse on the Professors ward at Yale New Haven Medical Center. It was a fortuitous move as it was at this time she met a pathology resident, fresh out of Yale Medical School, who would become her husband in 1966.
After a move to New York City and working as assistant to a leading researcher at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, Carol Ann and Dave settled in Princeton, NJ, to start and raise a family. Their three children, Katharine, Elizabeth, and Stephen, arrived in quick succession. Motherhood found Carol Ann immersed in school activities, soccer and football games, horse shows, and too many volunteer duties to count. To many of her children’s friends she became a 2nd mom and the Lambert Drive open door policy found her home full of activity and laughter. As her children became more independent, she began a new career as a travel agent. As travel had always been a passion, this new position opened opportunities for her and her family to enjoy many years of adventures to beautiful beaches, ski towns, exotic locales, and international cultural destinations.
When her children grew into adulthood, Carol Ann was thrilled that they all settled in New England. A perennial Red Sox fan, she was able to return to her beloved Fenway Park on many occasions to cheer for her now winning team with a cold beer and a Fenway Frank. Annual family vacations soon grew to include her seven grandchildren who were a constant source of pleasure and wonder. Each summer brought an oceanside holiday on Block Island or Maine where three generations of Fulmers enjoyed time spent together creating indelible and treasured memories. Carol Ann could also be counted on to spoil her grandchildren with her elaborate holiday efforts. Her Easter egg hunts, complete with hundreds of toy filled plastic eggs and her famous “Bunny Cake,” were unparalleled.
Threaded throughout were Carol Ann’s sewing skills. She spent countless hours over her sewing machine creating dresses, bags, and accessories that rivaled those found in high end boutiques. When her children were young, no Easter or Christmas was complete without matching holiday dresses for her daughters. The Princeton class of 1955 was also a lucky beneficiary of her creations where she applied her skills to the design of many class reunion costumes. When the grandchildren began appearing, Carol Ann was thrilled to sew beautiful dresses from vintage Lily Pulitzer fabric for her granddaughters.
Carol Ann was an enthusiastic supporter of Dave’s Princeton University class of 1955. For over 35 years she served on the reunion committee. She could often be found at the registration tent during reunions, welcoming classmates and families and assuring that they were decked out in appropriate 1955 apparel and accessories. Carol Ann became an honorary classmate and was awarded the Order of the Claw in 1985.
Ever present was Carol Ann’s passion for reading and language. Never without a book, while traveling, nearly a quarter of her packing space was dedicated to paperbacks. No week was complete for Carol Ann without the New York Times Sunday crossword – and don’t even think about beating her at Scrabble.
Carol Ann is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, David Hoover Fulmer; her children, Katharine Fulmer of Newburyport, MA; Elizabeth Emery and husband, Richard, of Kennebunk, ME; Stephen Fulmer and wife, Whitney, of Duxbury, MA; and her cherished grandchildren; Helen, Lila, Sam, Charlie, Amelia, William and Madeline who affectionately called her NuNu.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Carol Ann’s memory to Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ 08619 (groundsforsculpture.org/memorials-tributes.
Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.
