Obituary for Caroline E. Johnson-Allshouse (Lewis)
”Carrie,” to her many friends, and “Nanny” to her beloved grandchildren--passed away peacefully at her home in Medfield on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, surrounded by her adoring children. She was 71. Her transition was preceded by several days of joyful visits and goodbyes; and it marks the end of her courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Her quick wit, beautiful figure, and radiant smile never abandoned her; and she knew how to light up a room even in her final hours.
Caroline was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, the youngest daughter of Francis & Elizabeth (Cain) Lewis. Her lifelong fervor for education and learning began at Braintree High School, from which she graduated in 1967. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1971, she married her college sweetheart, David Charles Johnson, on July 22, 1972. And as Carrie liked to say, next came their “big adventure” -- a cross-country move to New Orleans and David’s legal studies at Tulane University. The couple eventually put down roots in Medfield, where Caroline worked as an elementary school teacher while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education from Lesley College, which she received in 1982. Not content to let her passion for helping others confine itself to the classroom, Carrie shifted career paths in the late 1990’s, earning a degree in Acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture in 2001. She maintained a successful private practice in Medfield until 2020.
Carrie loved being outdoors, and was a champion for the environment and progressive causes. She delighted in working on her garden, riding her bike around the many paths of New England, and dropping her kayak in the Charles River for a Sunday afternoon drift. After David’s untimely passing in 2000, she remarried W. James Allshouse on June 2nd, 2008. The couple enjoyed more than a decade of world travel together, including trips to Norway, Greece, and Switzerland. In recent years, Carrie devoted countless hours to the Medfield Food Pantry, where her trademark firebrand spirit was adored by her colleagues. But nothing gave her greater joy than sitting outside and reading a book near the water with one of her grandchildren, in whom her passion for education and nature lives on.
Caroline is survived by her second husband, W. James Allshouse, of Medfield, her daughter, Sarah Cambria, and her husband, Andrew Cambria, of Milton, her daughter, Megan Johnson, and her husband, Tom Anderson, of Stow, her daughter, Becky Coburn, and her husband, John Coburn, of Vergennes, VT, and her son, Samuel Johnson, and his wife, Lisa Johnson, of Amesbury. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Sadie & Felix Cambria, Elizabeth, Thomas & Charles Anderson, and David, Dorothy & Annie Coburn. Her surviving sister is Mary Christine Runge of Chebeague Island, ME; and her surviving nephews and niece are Nathaniel & Christopher Runge and Katharyn Hibbert. Caroline is also survived by her stepchildren, David Allshouse, and his wife, Amanda Allshouse, of Clearwater, FL, Eric Allshouse, and his wife, Elizabeth Allshouse, of Haverhill, and Elissa Muccioli, her husband, Derek Muccioli, and their daughter, Eva, of Waltham.
Caroline is predeceased by her first husband, David Charles Johnson, who passed away January 4, 2000.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private service will be held for Carrie’s immediate family. A larger memorial for friends and extended family will be held at a later date, when it’s deemed responsibly permissible. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to local food pantries be made in Carrie’s name.
Not In Vain
If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain:
If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
-- Emily Dickinson
Caroline was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, the youngest daughter of Francis & Elizabeth (Cain) Lewis. Her lifelong fervor for education and learning began at Braintree High School, from which she graduated in 1967. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1971, she married her college sweetheart, David Charles Johnson, on July 22, 1972. And as Carrie liked to say, next came their “big adventure” -- a cross-country move to New Orleans and David’s legal studies at Tulane University. The couple eventually put down roots in Medfield, where Caroline worked as an elementary school teacher while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education from Lesley College, which she received in 1982. Not content to let her passion for helping others confine itself to the classroom, Carrie shifted career paths in the late 1990’s, earning a degree in Acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture in 2001. She maintained a successful private practice in Medfield until 2020.
Carrie loved being outdoors, and was a champion for the environment and progressive causes. She delighted in working on her garden, riding her bike around the many paths of New England, and dropping her kayak in the Charles River for a Sunday afternoon drift. After David’s untimely passing in 2000, she remarried W. James Allshouse on June 2nd, 2008. The couple enjoyed more than a decade of world travel together, including trips to Norway, Greece, and Switzerland. In recent years, Carrie devoted countless hours to the Medfield Food Pantry, where her trademark firebrand spirit was adored by her colleagues. But nothing gave her greater joy than sitting outside and reading a book near the water with one of her grandchildren, in whom her passion for education and nature lives on.
Caroline is survived by her second husband, W. James Allshouse, of Medfield, her daughter, Sarah Cambria, and her husband, Andrew Cambria, of Milton, her daughter, Megan Johnson, and her husband, Tom Anderson, of Stow, her daughter, Becky Coburn, and her husband, John Coburn, of Vergennes, VT, and her son, Samuel Johnson, and his wife, Lisa Johnson, of Amesbury. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Sadie & Felix Cambria, Elizabeth, Thomas & Charles Anderson, and David, Dorothy & Annie Coburn. Her surviving sister is Mary Christine Runge of Chebeague Island, ME; and her surviving nephews and niece are Nathaniel & Christopher Runge and Katharyn Hibbert. Caroline is also survived by her stepchildren, David Allshouse, and his wife, Amanda Allshouse, of Clearwater, FL, Eric Allshouse, and his wife, Elizabeth Allshouse, of Haverhill, and Elissa Muccioli, her husband, Derek Muccioli, and their daughter, Eva, of Waltham.
Caroline is predeceased by her first husband, David Charles Johnson, who passed away January 4, 2000.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private service will be held for Carrie’s immediate family. A larger memorial for friends and extended family will be held at a later date, when it’s deemed responsibly permissible. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to local food pantries be made in Carrie’s name.
Not In Vain
If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain:
If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
-- Emily Dickinson