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Carol Kemp Nill

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | June 26, 2023

Carol Kemp Nill, 84, most recently of Arden Courts Jefferson Hills, previously of McKeesport, Elizabeth Township, and White Oak, passed away Thursday, June 22, 2023. Born June 27, 1938 in Pittsburgh, Carol was the daughter of the late Edward L. Kemp and Carol Virginia Hemington Kemp. She graduated from Lebanon Junior High in West Mifflin and McKeesport High School. In 1960, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. In 1960-61, she was a Rotary Fellow to the University of Bombay in India. She received an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Pittsburgh in 1963 and a Masters of Library Science from Pitt in 1968. She served as a librarian at CCAC South Campus for 10 years. Founder of Womansplace in McKeesport in 1976, she served as Executive Director for five years. Carol was a charter member of McKeesport NOW and the publisher of The McKeesport Feminist newsletter. She was also a co-founder of McKeesport Meals on Wheels and President of McKeesport Little Theater and the Pittsburgh Drama League, President of PA Golf Owners for five years, Vice President of Butler’s Golf Course, and board member of the National Golf Course Owners Association, then also Publisher of Elizabeth Township Life magazine.

She was a good Mum and Grandma and is survived by her children, Christy Barowich (husband Dave, children Emma and Eli) and Jake Nill (wife Sarah, children Bryce, Bodie, and Colby) and many cousins, nieces and nephews, and deep lifelong friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph C. Nill, brothers, Ted and Peter Kemp, and an infant son in 1967. Carol, like so many in her family, marched to the beat of her own drummer, and loved summer in the mountains at Deep Creek and warm winters in Juno Beach, Florida. Travel was a never-ending joy, and she had many adventures at home and abroad, including at Camp Yough, a Swiss trip with Girl Scouts, cello at National Music Camp at Interlochen, a near engagement to Arun in India, and a final solo trip to England just a few years ago. Despite what she described as an isolated childhood, she enjoyed being with and keeping in touch with family and many friends from school(s), bowling with the Thirties Bowling Group, plus Pi Beta Phi sorority, McKeesport College Club, AAUW in Florida, the sailing club at Deep Creek, her goddess group, book groups, movie classes, and her neighborhoods. If you’ve read this far, did you laugh at her Christmas letters, watch her head out all bundled up and with a scarf, wait for her to wake up from her daily nap, take ‘the Greek way’ around (ramps not steps), marvel at the Caprice trunk full of art, or receive Our Bodies, Ourselves as a shower gift? Hopefully you never had to play Trivial Pursuit opposing her or her brothers! Carol was intelligent, determined, fierce, generous, quick to laugh, easy to surprise, and caring; she reveled in dessert, books, poetry, stories, theater, art, music, politics, and the moon; she did not hesitate to hire people to help her with just about anything (and she found great ‘staff’ — thank you to all, especially Lori); she refused to attend Bethany, so luckily that worked out and she learned to ski; there was a vexing 2019 saga; she found peace after traumas through counseling with Stacey; she was staunchly pro-choice and a solid advocate for many, especially women; she did not allow anyone to interrupt her shows like Rachel Maddow, or even C-SPAN. On June 2, 1993, Dr. Dolenc surgically clipped a giant brain aneurysm before it could rupture (and despite many insurance battles). Later, Alzheimers took her progressive thoughts and rich memories, such as those of the Trekniks in their Land Rovers, and holding hands with one fellow in the light of the full moon at the Taj Mahal, plus traveling home from India as the sole passenger on a cargo ship where only the captain spoke English. But those are the breaks! She remained contented and inquisitive when she was awake, knew just where to find the ice cream, and never turned down a Reese’s. Friends are welcome on Friday, July 14, 2023 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 6028 Smithfield St, Boston, PA (Elizabeth Township) 15135. (412) 751-5000 Drew J. Gilbert, director. Funeral service will be held at the funeral home chapel at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Inurnment will follow at the Mt. Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Carol suggested memorial contributions to the Allegheny Land Trust or to Planned Parenthood. Condolences can be made online at Gilbertfuneralhomeandcrematory.com.

Originally published June 26, 2023.

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