Carol Ann Diprima Rankin, born April 3, 1961 in Groton, Massachusetts, passed away surrounded by her family on Feb. 18, 2022 at Maine Medical Center in Portland as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident.

Carol graduated from Lunenburg High School in three years, skipping her junior year because of outstanding academic performance. She then moved to Raleigh, North Carolina where she made many friends that can be considered her extended family. After moving back to Massachusetts, she married Mathew Jones and moved to Maine where she found love for the people and the community. On Aug. 24, 1996, she remarried Michael A.C. Rankin of Wiscasset, Maine.

A waitress by profession but a true caregiver at heart, she always went out of her way to help those in need. She would greet you with a smile and welcome you to talk awhile, making anyone she met feel like they had known her for years. Carol was a spiritual mystic with poetry in her soul. She lived her life with deep faith and embodied the true meaning of love – the heart of life. Her love of music was unparalleled. Her husband and all of their children are musicians and performers, and she never missed a gig. She was a brilliant writer of beautiful poetry and co-wrote countless songs. She loved her family with a passion that was rare and precious.

She found satisfaction and pleasure in taking care of the customers at the various establishments she worked for, including the Muddy Rudder in Edgecomb, Red’s Eats and Sarah’s Cafe in Wiscasset, Crissy’s and the breakfast place in Damariscotta, among others.

Compassionate when she needed to be, tough when she had to be, but always supportive with love and wisdom.

Carol was predeceased by her parents, Michael and Ruth Murray Diprima of Lunenburg, Massachusetts, and her younger brother, Patrick Diprima, also of Lunenburg.

She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Michael A.C. Rankin of Wiscasset; her daughter, Ruth B. Jones of Alna and her sons Caleb C. Jones and his partner Meghan of Edgecomb, Zacharias M.A. Rankin and his partner Annie of Whitefield, and John M.K. Rankin of Wiscasset; two sisters, Katherine Sciabarassi of Worcester, Massachusetts and Connie Ann McEuwen of Pismo Beach, California; brothers, Michael A. Diprima of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, Dr. John Thomas Diprima and his wife Leslie of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Daniel Diprima and his partner Darcey of Lunenburg, Massachusetts; one granddaughter, Aura Pearl Jones of Alna; three stepbrothers and 12 nieces and nephews.

A memorial mass of christian burial will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Newcastle on Saturday, March 12 at 11 a.m. A celebration of Carol’s life will follow the next day, Sunday, March 13, at the 1812 Farm in Bristol from 2 to 5 p.m.

Her memorial stone will be placed in Lunenburg Cemetery in Lunenburg, Massachusetts beside her parents.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Special Olympics Maine at www.somaine.org, or simply do a good deed to help someone.

Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High Street, Bath, Maine. Condolences may be made at www.DaigleFuneralHome.com.