Carol Derwin Carol Derwin worked as an accountant for the City of Waterbury, doing the teacher payroll until she got sick. Then she became a resident of Abbott Terrace Health Center in Waterbury. Carol resided at Abbott Terrace from November 22, 1993 until the day she died, which was February 28, 2015. It was an honor and a privilege to know her for so long. Carol gradually became involved in facility life and was elected as President of the Resident Council for over ten years. As president of the council, she represented all 205 residents of the facility, but especially those who could not advocate for themselves. She attended Quarterly Regional meetings and the Annual Voices Forum held each fall at the Aqua Turf in Southington, Ct. The forum included presidents of resident councils from all over Connecticut. They met with state representatives and legislators to advocate for nursing home resident rights. At home, she was an inspiration to all. She started a variety of fund raisers over the years, including the annual Daffodil Sale to benefit the American Cancer Society, the Arthritis Foundation, local food pantries/soup kitchens and the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk Fund Raisers. Perhaps closest to her heart, was the St. Jude Children’s’ Hospital. She initiated “A Mile of Pennies” and daily recycling of soda cans, totaling over $1800 over the years, for the sick children. She volunteered daily, delivering morning newspapers, daily mail and in the ceramics and bingo programs. She helped to form a monthly Food Committee Meeting and Annual Resident Council Appreciation Luncheon. Always ready for a good time, she helped in planning social events such as various ethnic heritage weeks of celebration: Italian Heritage, Canadian-French, Baltic States, and Hawaiian Luaus, Holiday events for peers, Haunted Houses and Annual resident Council Harvest Fairs. When she found out that special education students often do not get to trick or treat for Halloween, she invited them to the annual Haunted House. Although she reigned as president of the council in October 2008, Carol remained active in meetings and loved a variety of activities including going on out-trips, shopping, museums, The Essex Steam Train, movies, restaurants and Mystic Seaport. She enjoyed games, parties, socials, ceramic, bingo, Religious services and competed against other seniors from across the state in the Senior Olympics for many years. Carol set a high standard for herself of giving unselfishly to others and inspired others to do the same. She made residents, family members and employees see the joy and beauty in a life of giving. She will be missed by all and remembered for all that she taught us.