Carol Ann Crookes, 82, of Newport, RI, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2026, at the Village House Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
Carol was born on September 24, 1943, to the late Malcolm and Beatrice (Lebeau) Gifford in Newport, RI, and was raised in New Bedford, MA.
Following her graduation from New Bedford High School, Carol attended the Union Hospital School of Nursing in Fall River, MA, where she earned her degree as a registered nurse in 1964. She devoted her entire 47-year nursing career to caring for others in Fall River, beginning at Union Hospital and ultimately retiring from Charlton Memorial Hospital, where she worked on Atwood 4.
Carol was a kind, compassionate, and caring woman who spent her life helping others. Through her nursing career, she touched countless lives with her warmth and kindness. She was also a devoted wife who proudly supported her husband, Dennis, in his many endeavors as the owner of several beloved Aquidneck Island establishments, including My Brother’s Place, Woodhookers, and the Irish American Club. Carol cherished the friendships and memories made through those years and especially treasured the time she spent with her sisters, Judy and Nancy on Cape Cod throughout her life.
Carol is survived by her loving children, Denise Bergman and her husband, Jeffrey Bergman, of Mashpee, MA; Dennis Crookes Jr. of Los Angeles, CA; and Jennifer Crookes Wood and her husband, Michael Wood, of Newport, RI. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jacob Wood and his wife, Jenny Wood, of Warwick, RI; Alexandra Whitmore and her husband, Jeremiah Whitmore, of Fayetteville, NC; Madison Wood of Newport, RI; Zoe Karavolis Pan and her husband, Gilbert Pan, of Phoenix, AZ; and Nicholas Karavolis of Rehoboth, MA; as well as her great-grandchildren, Weston, Brooks, and Ellie Whitmore of Fayetteville, NC, and Lyla Wood of Warwick, RI. Carol is also survived by her sister, Judy Gauvin, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends who will miss her dearly.
In addition to her parents, Carol was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dennis Michael Crookes, and her sister, Nancy Lou Gifford.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, August 12, from 4:00–7:00 pm at O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St, Newport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, August 13, at 10:00 am at St. Augustin’s Church, corner of Carroll & Harrison Avenues, Newport. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Carol’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org/donate.
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