Carol (Pebbles) Hegarty

Carol Hegarty (Pebbles) passed away Saturday, August 23rd, at the age of 67, after years of struggling with chronic illness.

Carol was born March 4, 1958, in Concord, NH, to Carl J Pebbles II and Pansy Pebbles (Hoyt).  She was raised in Concord and enjoyed summers on Plum Island at the family’s camp. She loved walking the beaches at the reservation, looking for sand dollars and shells. It was in Newburyport during one of these summers that she met her husband, Thomas Hegarty.  Carol and Tom celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 2nd.  They lived most of this time in Amesbury, MA, where they raised their two daughters, Mary Testa of Amesbury and Patty Hegarty of Auburn, ME, before moving to South Hampton, NH.

Carol was very involved with her daughters’ activities, school, and sports.  She was an active member of the Immaculate Conception School PTO and served as a leader in fundraising endeavors for the school’s basketball program.  Carol loved creating and making gifts through her crafts, painting, and sewing.  She welcomed everyone, never judging a person by their looks or assumed status, but rather only by how they treated her. She felt fulfilled when she could reach out and help more vulnerable members of the community. 

Carol loved to take care of others, especially with her cooking, and would share anything she could with those in need.  Whether it was meals for an elderly neighbor, an extra breakfast or lunch in her daughter’s lunch box to share with a friend, or, more recently, a cooler full of now-infamous sandwiches for every concert and Red Sox game being attended.  Carol adored the ocean, never shying away from the crisp, cold water of New England.  She loved dancing and listening to music, especially by fiercely strong and independent women such as Loretta Lynn and Tina Turner.  She raised such women in her two daughters and cherished watching her two granddaughters, Carly and Paige Testa, grow into beautiful, kind, strong, independent women themselves.  

She leaves behind many cherished memories with family and friends. Carol is survived by her loving husband, Thomas Hegarty of South Hampton, NH; her daughters, Mary Testa and her husband, Mike, of Amesbury, MA, and Patricia Hegarty and her partner, Robert Pieper, of Auburn, ME; and her beloved granddaughters, Carly and Paige Testa of Amesbury, MA. She is also survived by her sister, Carrie Murphy, and her husband, Tom, as well as her brother, Bob Pebbles. Carol was predeceased by her brother, Carl Pebbles III, and her sister, Peggy Allquist. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. 

Services will be private and held at a later date. The Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St. Newburyport, MA 01950 is assisting Mrs. Hegarty’s family with her arrangements.

Donations can be made in her memory at the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society (mrfrs.org) in Salisbury, MA. 

To offer online condolences please visit www.tlcfuneralhome.com

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