Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:
WILMINGTON, MA — Carmen (MacLaughlin) Driscoll-Hale, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at her home in Wilmington, Massachusetts, with her devoted son, Jerry, by her side.
Carmen was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 5, 1938, the daughter of Harold and Ruth (Knowles) MacLaughlin. She attended Christian High School in Boston and later graduated from Jamaica Plain High School in 1955.
In her early life, she worked as a project manager and later managed an interior design business. She set aside her career aspirations to raise her twin sons, Jeremiah (Jerry) and George, with her first husband, David J. Driscoll, and with love and support from her stepsons, David J. Driscoll and John (Jackie) P. Driscoll.
Carmen loved Wilmington and would often brag that she lived in the best neighborhood and that she had the greatest neighbors in the world. She was immensely patriotic and could be spotted from a distance in her festive red, white, and blue outfits on any given Fourth of July. She was never afraid to wear vibrant, colorful outfits, even in her day-to-day life. Some of Carmen’s patriotism derived from her upbringing, and some was from the prestige of marrying into and expanding a military family. Her husband, Dave, served in the Navy during World War II; her two sons each served in the military, as did their half-brothers. Carmen was tremendously proud of all her boys and to be associated with the Navy, the Army, and the Marine Corps. She passed that patriotic spirit and love of country on to her sons. Carmen treasured being the wife of a Boston Police Detective, the mother of Firefighters, and then of a Massachusetts State Police Trooper. Even though those 5 men served in the military, Carmen was the hero beyond the headlines in the family. She was abundantly loving and selflessly devoted to her family.
After the boys were raised, she rejoined the workforce and served for many years as the Director of CCD Education at Saint Thomas of Villanova Church in Wilmington. She loved Jesus and was very strong in her faith, receiving great joy from teaching children about Jesus and the love He has for them.
Carmen loved life and lived it to the fullest. Laughter, music, singing, and dancing were among her favorite and most frequent activities. She had a unique, creative, and artistic flair. For many years, she was a member of the North Regional Theatre Workshop in Methuen, Massachusetts, where she took exhilaration performing in their annual productions. She had the most beautiful singing voice and would sing and dance like no one was watching, anywhere, everywhere, & often.
Carmen had an extraordinary love of flying, and her enthusiasm for it was inescapable. Window seat all the way. She thoroughly enjoyed traveling; she relished the repeated trips to Disney World with Dave and the boys. She took every opportunity to return to Disney World with Jerry in her later years while visiting him in Florida, and then later snowbirding annually with him to his home in Clearwater.
Carmen was particularly honored and appreciative to travel throughout the United States with Dave, attending his Guadalcanal Campaign Veteran Reunions together. Dave and Carmen formed great relationships with his shipmates and the other Navy and Marine Corps survivors. Attending those reunions was very special for her.
Carmen loved the outdoors, having a penchant for the ocean. She always made a point of sticking her toes in the water. She loved all things blue, matching her piercing blue eyes, accompanied by her radiant smile and her infectious laughter.
Years after Dave’s passing, Carmen married Albert Hale. Together, she and Al were faithful and active congregants at Grace Chapel in Wilmington. They had many great memories together.
She cared for and was loved by many wonderful pets over the years. She was particularly fond of and comforted by Jerry’s dog, Darby, who took it upon himself to be her protector, remaining faithfully by her side from the moment he met her until the very end.
Carmen had a deep love and fondness for her entire family and for the Norregaard boys, the sons of her lifelong friends, the late Dorothy (“Tyke”) and George Norregaard.
She absolutely adored being a grandmother — known as “Min” or “Minnie” — to Kayla, Seth, Nicole, Candra, and a great-grandmother to Raven.
Carmen was especially grateful for the love, care, and companionship that her former daughter-in-law, Hanaki Hickenbottom, provided her toward the end of her life.
Carmen is greatly missed and survived by her sons, Jeremiah (Jerry) Driscoll and George Driscoll. Her siblings, Harold MacLaughlin (Hazel), George MacLaughlin (Barbara), Linda MacLaughlin Scanlon (Edwin), and many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
Carmen was predeceased by her parents, Harold and Ruth (Knowles) MacLaughlin; her husband, David J. Driscoll; her second husband, Albert B. Hale; her sister, Anne Goggin (Bill), her sister Karen MacLaughlin (Edward Sheehan(living)), as well as stepsons David Driscoll and Jackie Driscoll.
Family and friends will gather for a Funeral Service at Grace Chapel, 128 West Street, Wilmington, on Saturday, April 11th at 10:00 a.m.
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