Carol Ann Dent

"Carol A. (Souther) Dent passed away peacefully at home on March 6, 2011 at home with her family around her. Carol was born in Leominster, Mass to Albert W. Souther and Florence (Parmenter) Souther. Carol was educated in Leominster schools and worked at the Foster-Grant Company before moving to Western Mass in 1966. Carol worked at Mount Holyoke College Alumni office until her marriage at which time she shared her life as a Wife and Homemaker, taking residence in Holyoke, MA and eventually in Granby, MA where she shared her life with her husband Richard Dent and daughters Rae and Leslie. During her life in Granby she worked in many town government capacities as: Assistant Town Clerk, Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools, Secretary to the Town Personnel Board and also served on the Voter Registration Committee. Later Carol was hired by the Granby Police Department as a Dispatcher and Secretary to the Police Chief. However, during her tenure at the Granby Police Department, Carol's responsibilities increased as the Keeper of Criminal Records and Administration of Firearm Identification Cards & Pistol Permits. Carol graduated from the Massachusetts Police Mini-Academy and was assigned as Granby's first woman Sworn (Part Time) Police Officer, along with all of her other duties. In her police capacity Carol worked as an investigator for crimes committed against women, children and the elderly. In the role of investigator Carol was instrumental in pursuing assailants of those offenses and bringing them to justice until her retirement from the Police Department in 2001 due to a heart condition. The Town did not retire her as a police officer under the "heart law" due to her part-time officer status. Carol was also involved in many church groups and activities, such as, Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, Pre-Canna Conferences, CCD, Family Weekend Experience and the Parrish Council of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Granby. Carol is predeceased by her Father Albert W. Souther Senior and leaves her Mother, Florence (Parmenter) Souther of Granby, Sister, Barbara (Souther) St.Germain and her husband John St.Germain of Lake Worth Florida, Brother, Albert W. (Bill) Souther Junior and his wife JoAnn (Couture) Souther of Merrimack New Hampshire, her daughters Rae Ann (Dent) Thompson and her husband Gregory (Greg) Thompson of Ware and Leslie Dent of Tampa Florida. She will also be sadly missed by her granddaughter Samantha (Thompson) Dube & her husband Nicholas (Nick) Dube of Granby, grandson Jacob (Jake) Thompson of Ware, husband Richard (Dick) Dent of Granby, a close family friend Irene Golfieri of Chicopee and also her two Shih-Tzu's Travis and Blossom. Carol also leaves many Uncles, Aunts, Nieces, Nephews and friends located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Florida, Tennessee and Arizona. Dick thanks family and friends for all of their prayers and support during this most difficult time and special thanks to Baystate Hospice, Granby Police Department, Granby Fire Department and the South Hadley Fire Department for their professional and caring help for Carol during her illness. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Carol's name to Baystate VNA & Hospice, 50 Maple Street, PO Box 9058 Springfield, Mass 01102 or the Granby Fire Department, Ambulance Fund, State Street, Granby Mass 01033. Family & Friends are invited to gather together to express condolences from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 9 at the Beer's & Story Funeral Home, 646 Newton Street South Hadley, Mass. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday from Beers & Story Funeral Home at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Immaculate Mary Catholic Church Route 202, Granby at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at a later date. "