Carol Louise (Messier) Kenerson, 79, of Spencer, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 24, 2026, while visiting her son, John, in Dubuque, Iowa, following a courageous 25-year battle with COPD.

Carol was born on Monday, December 16, 1946, to Robert Messier and was lovingly raised in Spencer by her paternal grandparents, Eva and Joseph Messier. Their love, guidance, and support helped shape the woman she would become.

Carol is survived by her devoted husband of more than 60 years, Butch Kenerson; her daughter, Melissa Hassett of Brookfield, Massachusetts; her son, John; her grandchildren, Jessica Walker and Corey Costa, also of Brookfield, Massachusetts; and her beloved cat, Nora.

Carol was a member of the David Prouty High School Class of 1964, and for more than 30 years, she worked at Millbrook Distributors. She was a woman of remarkable dedication and strength, known not only for her strong work ethic but also for her unwavering devotion to her family.

After long days spent doing physically demanding work at Millbrook, she came home every night and prepared a home-cooked meal, made sure the family had clean and ironed clothes for the next day, and tidied the house before taking a few moments for herself to unwind with a couple of Salem cigarettes and a glass of Coke.

Among the simple pleasures Carol enjoyed were a weekly Friday night ham grinder from the Spencer Pizza House and Saturday night dinners that featured a T-bone steak at the Auburn Mall’s York Steak House and, after it closed, prime rib at Christo’s Restaurant in Worcester. These small traditions brought her happiness and became cherished family memories.

Carol’s life was defined by selflessness. She consistently placed the needs of others before her own and found her greatest happiness in caring for those she loved. She took special pride in making birthdays and Christmases memorable, always working hard to ensure those occasions felt special for her family.

The family is deeply grateful to the ICU staff at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, who used every available resource to help Carol fight a severe COPD exacerbation complicated by pneumonia. While her illness ultimately proved too great to overcome, we are thankful for their exceptional care, compassion, and dedication to her and our family.

A special thank you goes to Amy at Mercy Hospital, whose compassion, comfort, and support helped ensure Carol’s final moments were as peaceful and dignified as possible.

Anyone who knew Carol understood that she never sought attention or recognition for herself. Honoring her wishes and the quiet humility that defined her life, no public memorial service will be held.

Carol’s kindness, strength, and selfless love for her family will be remembered always and missed beyond measure. Her passing has left us truly heartbroken and created a void in our lives and in our hearts that will never be filled.

Tri-State Cremation Center of East Dubuque, Illinois, is assisting the family with final arrangements.