Carol Anne Pfeiffer

Carol Anne Pfeiffer, 93, of Ocala, Florida, passed away on February 17, 2025 at her home. She was born on December 26, 1931, to the late William Joseph Sheehan, Jr., and Florence Louise Sheehan (née McGinley) in New York City, New York. 

No words can describe Carol better than the inscription in her high school yearbook:

“The sudden light that steals over Carol’s face when she laughs is something very lovely to watch. She is an exponent of all that spells sterling character, strong sense of duty and calm stability. Carol’s gentle, reticent manner would do justice to a princess. With her ambitions tucked away among the secrets of her heart, Carol will always be to us the perfect example of the truly gracious lady.” 

Carol grew up in Manhattan and was a 1951 graduate of Dominican Academy. As a young woman, she worked at Hanover Trust Bank of New York. She married the love of her life, William Joseph Pfeiffer, on October 2, 1954. She was a military wife who raised with Bill six children around the globe—in New York, Texas, Maryland, Michigan, Virginia, New Hampshire, Japan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. In addition to raising her family, she had a career working at J.C. Penney, Raytheon, and culminating as the executive secretary of the president of Balzers America.

In 1992, she and Bill retired to Oak Run in Ocala, Florida, where they were active members of Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Carol served in numerous ministries and held several leadership positions in the Council of Catholic Women (CCW), including as President for many years. Carol and Bill spent their retirement years traveling the world and visiting family and friends. Carol died peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family, as she always wanted.

Carol was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bill, her son Leo James Pfeiffer, and her brother William Joseph Sheehan, III.

Carol is survived by her children, William (Kathleen) Pfeiffer of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Laurence (Gail) Pfeiffer of Glenelg, Maryland; Janine (Joseph) Phaneuf of Old Forge, New York; Suzanne Pfeiffer (Ivan Kulis), of Knoxville, Tennessee; and Michael (Jennifer) Pfeiffer of Milford, Massachusetts; and her daughter-in-law Linda Pfeiffer, surviving wife of Leo, of North Springfield, Virginia. Carol loved her twelve grandchildren, Robert (Renn), Elizabeth (Sean), John, William, Katherine (Benjamin), Rebecca, Matthew, Samuel, Madeleine, Olivia, Maxwell, and Jackson; and four great-granddaughters, Elle, Berkeley, Aubree, and Lucy. She is also survived by a large rambunctious extended family.

Visitation will be from 3:00 to 6:00 pm on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at the Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services TimberRidge, 9695 SW 110th Street, Ocala, Florida 34481. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, February 24, 2025 at 8:30 am at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 6455 SW State Road 200, Ocala, Florida 34476, with Father Patrick J. O’Doherty presiding. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, at a future date.

For those wishing to make a donation in her honor, Carol’s favorite charities were St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), the ALS Association (www.als.org), and the American Parkinson Disease Association (www.apdaparkinson.org).

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services TimberRidge, 9695 SW 110th Street, Ocala, Fl 34481, (352) 873-4114.