Carole A. (Annutto) Stearns

On January 22, 1942, Julia and Anthony Annutto welcomed their fourth of five children into the family. Carole would go on to live a full life which came to an end after 83 years on June 17th, 2025.   

Born into a family that understood the value of hard work, she spent many hot summers on the family farm working alongside her brothers and sister.

Despite her humble beginnings, she had a love for lighthearted fun such as family gatherings, parties, and picnics. At these events, she could be mistaken for a movie star that took a wrong turn and ended up on a small-town farm.  

It was this beauty that ultimately led to her courtship and subsequent marriage to the love of her life, the late Robert Stearns, on October 5, 1963, at Saint Anthony’s Church in Herkimer, NY. Whether bowling or jumping in the Mustang to grab ice cream, their love for one another never wavered.

Shortly after being married, Carole and Bob decided to join the rest of the family on the farm where they would go on to build a family of their own. In 1967 they welcomed Kristin into the family, followed one year later by Scott.  

With roots planted, Carole stayed busy raising the family, spending time with her siblings, volunteering at the church, and working her way up the ladder at the New York Telephone Company before retiring after a bout with cancer in 2000.

However, Carole still had plenty of wind left in the sails as she helped welcome her two grandsons into the family. Brennen and Cameron would keep her busy for the next 27 years.

It was at this time in her life that she could be found spending the weeks scooping ice cream at the farm stand, running her grandchildren between practices, and catching up with friends over dinner.

On Fridays and Saturdays, she was sure never to miss a Herkimer football game. She could always be found in the stands closely watching every snap. Rain, snow, or shine, her dedication to her grandsons filled her with pride that only a grandmother can know.  

Sundays were dedicated to, in her words, her faith in the Lord. It was a faith that was unwavering, even until the end of her life. So strong was her faith that it was passed down to her children and grandchildren who are always happy to recall one of her many ‘sermons’.

Her grandchildren will no sooner forget her sermons than they will their afternoon and late-night chats with their favorite conversation partner. Hours would be lost talking about school, their jobs, family, or her favorite topic, their haircuts. It was in these conversations that she never pulled a punch and was sure to share lessons from life or pieces of wisdom that she picked up along her journey.  

In return, her grandsons were happy to remind her to keep an eye on her keys, her glasses, or her jewelry. All of which the family dogs had a habit of stealing.  

Between barking back at the dogs and singing Kenny Rogers or Frank Sanatra to her heart’s content, she always made time to express her creative side; making ornaments for the Christmas Tree or drafting up letters that were so beautifully written that they were sometimes difficult to read.

Unlike her letters, Carole’s vibrant life was an easy read for those who knew her best. It was marked by an unwavering love and loyalty to her family, a creative spirit that never lost its touch, and a steadfast faith that will not soon be forgotten by those that love her most.

Carole is survived by her daughter, Kris (Steve Napolitano) Thompson; her son, Scott (Amy Getman) Stearns; two grandsons, Brennen (Stephanie Oliveira) Thompson and Cameron (Lauren George) Thompson; two brothers, John (Joan) Annutto and James (Sandy) Annutto; several nieces, nephews and cousins, including special nieces and nephews, Toni Ann DiGristina, Phillip Annutto, Marissa Annutto, Sarah Gage, and Kyle Annutto; and a special friend, Linda Sanita.

Besides her parents and husband, Carole was pre-deceased by her sister Marie DiGristina and her husband Joseph; a brother, Anthony Annutto, Jr., and a niece, Debra Daunheimer.

The family will be receiving relatives and friends on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, from 4-7 pm at the locally owned and family operated, Vincent A. Enea Funeral Service (next to Hannaford Markets), 527 E. Albany St., Herkimer, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 10:00 am at the Church of Sts. Anthony & Joseph, S. Main St., Herkimer, NY. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, where Carole will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Robert.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the Little Falls Emergency Department for their care and compassion. Please make all memorial contributions to the Herkimer Humane Society, 514 State Route 5s, Mohawk, NY 13407. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carole A. (Annutto) Stearns, please visit our floral store.