Carol Petersen Oakes, 92, SPFHS English Teacher, Guidance Counselor
Carol Petersen Oakes, 92, died on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at her apartment at The Chelsea at Fanwood. Carol was born in Washington, D.C. to the late Henry and Jean Petersen, grew up in Clark, and lived in Scotch Plains before moving to Fanwood over 60 years ago.
As a child, Carol took an active interest in the performing arts, and commuted from Clark, N.J., to the Professional Children’s School in New York City. She performed on radio and had her own column in a children’s magazine. After graduating from high school, she went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Douglass College and, later, her Master’s Degree in Education from Rutgers University.
Carol enjoyed a long career as an English teacher and guidance counselor at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. She was a longtime board member and trustee of the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA and an active member of the local theater company the Fanwood Philathalians. She was also a key member of the Fanwood Historic Preservation Commission.
She will be remembered for her work in supporting young people in a range of contexts, including youngsters in particularly difficult circumstances; for her passionate, humanistic approach to her work as an English teacher and later as a guidance counselor; for the dedication and care she showed as a mother to her five children; and for the loving bond she nurtured with her husband, Beau, over the 60+ years of their marriage. She was a source of inspiration and comfort to everyone who knew her. Surviving are her children, Toni Marchick and her husband, Steve; Jacqui Murray-Smith and her husband, Harvey; Michael Oakes; Steven Oakes and his wife, Ildi; and David Oakes and his wife, Rosa. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Bailey, Seanna, Natasha, Adam, Greg, Christine, Chelsea Rae, Emily, James, Carol Maria, and Benji.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Kingsland “Beau” Oakes, and her sister, Nancy Godfrey.
There will be a memorial gathering and remembrances at Memorial Funeral Home, 155 South Avenue, Fanwood, on Sunday, February 18, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m., with remembrances at 4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 123, Fanwood, N.J. 07023.
February 8, 2024
