Leslie P. Carroll, 91, died peacefully Dec. 21 at the Presbyterian Nursing Home in New Hartford, concluding a rich life spent entirely in the area and devoted to serving his country, church, community, and family.
He had lived at the Presbyterian Home the past six years, following a massive stroke in 2009 and seven months at the former St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in Utica.
Mr. Carroll was born Sept. 30, 1925 in the Town of Paris, the youngest of 11 children of Frank and Elizabeth Waldman Carroll. He was its last surviving member, but Mr. Carroll lived long enough to see the family that he started grow from six children to 22 grandchildren and to 12 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Carroll was a World War II Army veteran, whose service in the 106th Infantry Division in Europe included a harrowing experience during the Battle of the Bulge, the German army’s last major offensive of the war, which took place in the Ardennes Forest region of Belgium and Germany. On Dec. 19, 1944, his unit was fighting near Schonberg, when Mr. Carroll, then 19, was wounded and taken prisoner. On Christmas Eve, he arrived at the German prison camp where he was held until the camp was liberated in May 1945. He received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and other medals for his war service.
Mr. Carroll returned to his home in Sauquoit after the war, graduating from the Utica School of Commerce. He was employed for 34 years at Bendix Corporation’s former plant in Utica, retiring in 1985 as supervisor of the Tool Control Department.
Mr. Carroll was a life-long communicant at St. Patrick’s- St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, where he served tirelessly until his illness as a Holy Name Society member, a Eucharistic minister, parish council member, and trustee among other contributions. A member of the Knights of Columbus Council 189, and Utica’s Nocturnal Adoration Society, he received an Immaculata Award from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse’s in 2015 for his many years of service to his church. His deep faith and devotion was evident to all who knew him.
He married Marie Dunn on June 7, 1952 and they raised their family in Chadwicks. He was actively involved over many years in associations and activities there, including the Chadwicks Union Free School, where he at one time served on the Board of Education, the Edward L. Clonan American Legion Post 1000, the Village Elders, and the Town of Paris Historical Society.
Mr. Carroll was a self-taught handyman at home who could build or fix anything, a devoted husband and caring father who taught his children his values and his work ethic, and a reliable good neighbor who always had time to help someone.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include six children and their spouses, Doug (Marguerite), Alexandria, Va.; Mary Elizabeth Sigmund (John), Waterville; Theresa Burke (Kevin), Rutland, Vt.; David (Paula), Rapid City, S.D.; Eileen Alexander Straile (David Straile), Ijamsville, Md.; and Susan Macek (Greg), Damascus, Md., as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His 22 grandchildren: Christine Carroll Berry (Va.), Katherine Carroll (Va.), Karen Sigmund Pannebaker (Pa.), Jonathan Sigmund (Ca.), Brenda Sigmund (Ca.), Sarah Burke Young (Pa.), Jedediah Burke (N.Y.), Rebekah Burke Falco (Vt.), Hannah Burke (Pa.), Joshua Burke (Va.), Judah Burke (Vt.), Josiah Burke (Vt.), Rachel Carroll (Ga.), Daniel Carroll (N.D.), Mark Carroll (S.D.), Luke Alexander (Md.), Leah Alexander (Md.), Annabelle Alexander (Md.), Jordan Alexander (N.Y.), Natalie Macek (Md.), Benjamin Macek (Md.), Nolan Macek (Md.)
Mr. Carroll also leaves a brother-in-law, Donald Dunn of Sauquoit; two sisters-in-law, Joan Carroll, of Clinton, and Roberta Carroll, a resident of the Lutheran Home, Clinton, and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by six sisters and four brothers: Ethel, Elizabeth (Betty), Dorothy, Hazel, Agnes, Erma, Francis, Vincent, William and Robert, who died in infancy.
Calling hours will be Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Smith Funeral Home, 3022 Oneida St., Sauquoit. Mr. Carroll’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, December 29 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s-St. Anthony’s Church in Chadwicks.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Patrick’s - St Anthony’s Catholic Church, PO Box 429, Chadwicks, NY 13319 or the Presbyterian Home of Central New York PO Box 1144, New Hartford, NY 13413 (www.presbyterianhome.com). The family thanks the staff of the Presbyterian Home, and especially those in the Birch unit, for the kindness and compassion they showed Mr. Carroll while he was in their care.

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