Obituaries

Carolyn Sue Worley (née Duty) age 83 passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of February 7, 2025 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg.

Carolyn was born March 7, 1941 in St. Charles, Arkansas the daughter of Walter and Mora Lee Duty. She was the youngest of three children. She had a sweet personality that overflowed with kindness and she was the epitome of a classy, thoughtful and demure southern woman.

Carolyn attended Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas graduating with a degree in elementary education. It was during college where she met her husband, John. They were united in marriage June 2, 1963 and their love story continued for the next 61 years until Carolyn’s passing. After graduating from Hendrix College, John and Carolyn moved to Oklahoma where John began graduate school. Their next adventure took them to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and it was during that time that their first-born son, Chris arrived. As John continued his post-doctoral studies, Carolyn found her calling in motherhood. 13 months after the arrival of Chris, their second son David was born and Carolyn’s maternal skills were on full display. She embraced these two sons and raising children became her life’s work and her source of pride and joy.

After spending time in Evanston, IL, John and Carolyn moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where their daughter, Nancy was born. Even as a busy mom, she still found time to build a community of friends that she met through the University of Cincinnati where John was a chemistry professor. She loved the first home they bought in the city and embraced the life of being a homemaker and a mom. After spending a few years in Cincy, the family packed up and moved to Green Bay where they put down roots for the next 30 years. John took a position as a professor at St. Norbert College and Carolyn became a mom for the fourth time to another daughter, Jennifer. Their family was now complete.

Carolyn was a loving and dedicated wife and mother. Her kids fondly remember the homemade Halloween costumes she would make, the pancake breakfasts she would whip up prior to her kids sporting events, the time and love she would put into her children’s birthdays, her affinity for music, her sweet melodic singing voice, her hugs and kisses, her southern charm and manners, and her contagious smile and giggle.

After John’s retirement, John and Carolyn moved to Middleton, WI in 2001 to be closer to their grandchildren. Carolyn loved spending time with all of her grandchildren, 9 in total. She was so proud to take on her new role as “Mamaw” and she loved sewing outfits and making blankets for her grandchildren, playing with them, teaching them to read and write and showering them with endless hugs and kisses. Her grandchildren have fond memories of her Christmas tradition of receiving a special ornament every year from her. Her life was fulfilling as a wife, mom and grandmother. She taught all of us how to be kind, thoughtful, gentle, and gracious.

Her life became ‘different’ in 2017 when she was diagnosed with dementia. John became her primary caretaker. He managed this new role in life with love, patience, respect and dignity for Carolyn as they navigated the progressive decline of this disease. She relied on him for everything and even though she greatly struggled the last two years of her life in the face of this disease, she always knew John was her safe person. We are eternally grateful for our dad’s dedication to our mom as her dementia progressed. Even as the last days of her life approached, we still saw the love in her eyes as her family bid their farewell. The impact of love and a life well lived through kindness and a gentle spirit will forever live on with her family.

Carolyn is survived by her husband Dr. John Worley of Middleton, WI; her son Chris (Sarah) Worley of Verona, WI and their children Isaac and Hannah; her son Dr. David Worley (Jane) of Duluth, MN and their children Greta and Jack; her daughter Nancy Jaeckle of Middleton, WI and her children Owen, Elizabeth and Alex and her daughter Jennifer Worley of Madison, WI and her children Roger and Sydney. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mora Lee Duty, her brother Robert Duty and her sister Mora Faye Staton.

The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the staff at UW Emergency Room, UW Neurology team, the social workers at UW who worked tirelessly to find mom a comfortable and dignified facility after discharge, the palliative care team at UW and the entire team at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. We truly felt mom was in the best place she could possibly be in the final week of her life. You are ALL an amazing group of people and sometimes as we struggle to find the right words to use during our grief we simply say ‘thank you’ for caring for her as we did. We hope you know how much you touched us all.

A Celebration of Life will take place this summer in Carolyn’s memory. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Carolyn Worley to Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg or volunteering your time and talents for this wonderful facility that allows those nearing the end of their life to make a comfortable and dignified transition into the next chapter.

Write a check payable to “Agrace Foundation” Mail it to Agrace Foundation, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711

OR Contact the Agrace Foundation (608) 327-7180 or giving@agrace.org.

Call to talk to an interpreter / Tenemos intérpretes disponibles: (800) 930-2770

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Verona Chapel

220 Enterprise Drive

608-845-6625