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Mary Kraeger
Carolyn Fitch was born to Raymond and Mary (Snyder) Zecher on July 22, 1943. She grew up on her family farm in Carthage, New York with 3 sisters, Eunice, Linda, and Mary Jane, and one brother, Will...view moreCarolyn Fitch was born to Raymond and Mary (Snyder) Zecher on July 22, 1943. She grew up on her family farm in Carthage, New York with 3 sisters, Eunice, Linda, and Mary Jane, and one brother, William. She graduated from Beaver River High School.
After graduation, she attended the Utica School of Nursing and became a licensed practical nurse. It was during this time that she met William Fitch from Poland, New York. The two were married on May 13, 1967 and had three children, Sandra, Michael, and Mary. Carolyn had six grandchildren, Meghan, Benjamin, Morgan, Jordyn, Jessica, and Paige who she loved with her whole heart.
It was their first grandchild who called Carolyn Nonny as she began forming her first words. The name stuck among all six of her grandbabies.
Carolyn’s home was filled with life. She had a way of making everyone feel welcomed and accepted. She made sure everyone who entered her home was well fed and looked after, although some made that task difficult by the choices they made. It was during those times that a lecture would be in order, which she insisted came directly from the mother’s manual. The manual was jokingly referenced by chapter and verse among the children who knew her well, usually in an attempt to lighten her mood. It almost always worked, depending on the offense. Her patience was inexplicable.
Late in her career, Carolyn managed an intermediate care facility in Poland, New York, that is now known as Upstate Cerebral Palsy. She would say, she enjoyed reaching the individuals whom others could not. Carolyn had an unwavering desire to care for those who were unable to care for themselves. That care would include her own husband, who lost his battle with cancer one week after the birth of their first grandchild. They enjoyed twenty-seven years together before he passed in 1994.
Carolyn never remarried but enjoyed spending time with her friend Barb and sister Eunice. The three were affectionately referred to as the Rusty Gals in likeness to The Golden Girls sitcom. They enjoyed traveling together or just sitting at home with a shared puzzle.
Carolyn had a love of books from a young age and said her favorite place in school was the library where she read every book they had. Many mornings when she found an especially good book, she would wake up with swollen eyes. She always said it was because her eyes got tired, never wanting to be fussed over.
Mary credits her love of books to her mother. So, when Mary started her quest to write children books over twenty years ago, it was no surprise that Carolyn expressed a desire to write as well. They talked of writing a book together. Life pulled them in different directions in their writing aspirations. Their goal to write together was never achieved before Carolyn’s passing in June 2013.
Nonny’s Story of Love had been scribbled within the pages of a simple notebook that was rediscovered after many years in storage. Mary chose to finish what her mom had started so that together they may leave to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren one more piece of her invaluable advice: to love freely and openly.
Carolyn was known for her welcoming heart, warm hugs, being the best listener and always giving the most practical advice. She was loved by many and is greatly missed.
Coauthor Mary Kraeger grew up in Poland, New York with her parents and two siblings, Michael and Sandra. She graduated from Poland Central School.
Mary was married to Michael Kraeger Jr. on September 26, 1992. She cared for their two children, Meghan and Benjamin while managing a home-based daycare. There were times when she needed her mother’s wisdom. Surely, she would pass down her mother’s manual, she thought. There was no manual her mother finally admitted, she confessed to making it up as she went, saying the most important part of parenting/caregiving is to, “Just love them.”
In 2004 Mary earned an Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood at Herkimer County Community College. Independently, Mary completed three writing courses through the Institute of Children’s Literature.
Mary began working for Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency (MVCAA) in 2009. She worked mainly with preschool-aged children in Head Start classrooms throughout the Herkimer and Oneida counties for over eleven years. It was through her work with the children that she truly realized the impact books can have. Children do not mind listening to the same story over and over again. In fact, it is preferred. Much like the Velveteen Rabbit, the well-worn books are usually the most loved. “I love reading a favorite book to a group of children and watching them respond, many times in unison, to the story. It is so rewarding as a teacher,” Mary explained.
In 2015, Mary and her husband were keynote speakers at the Herkimer BOCES-Career and Technical Education completion ceremony, where they had attended while in high school—Mary for early childhood and Michael for welding.
Presently, Mary has left MVCAA to care for her first granddaughter, Avery. She plans to focus her attention first on being the best grandma she can be and second on publishing her own manuscript that has been stored for far too long.view less