Carol McNally, 87, a long- time resident of North Andover, Mass., passed away on May 20, surrounded by her loving family at High Pointe House in Haverhill, Mass.

She and her twin sister, Sally (Welch), were born on Christmas Eve 1936 in Lawrence, Mass., to the late Milton and Helen (Budd) Downs.

She grew up in Salem, N.H., and graduated from Woodbury High School in 1954. During her school years, Carol was president of the National Honor Society, editor of her school newspaper, and played both varsity basketball and field hockey. She attended UNH and Keene State College, where she graduated in 1959. She later received her master’s in Education degree. Carol was a history, civics, and economics teacher and taught in both the Salem, N.H., and Georgetown, Mass., school systems. She left to raise a family, but later substituted for many years in the Boxford, Mass., public schools. In 1964, she married her beloved husband Stephen McNally with whom she celebrated 55 years of marriage. Together, they raised four children and eight grandchildren. She enjoyed reading, planting flowers, her many pet cats, and she became known for her homemade cookies and blueberry muffins. She enjoyed summers at her cottage in Bridgton for the past 49 years.

Carol was predeceased by her husband Steve, her twin sis-ter Sally, her parents, and her grandson John Lynch.

She is survived by her sons and their wives Christopher and Melissa (Adams) McNally, Michael and Laura (Surette) McNally, and Stephen and Kathleen (Ciaccia) McNally, her daughter Margaret (Peg) Lynch, as well as seven grandchildren: Cameron and Gillian (Holdsworth) McNally, Megan and Kevin McNally, Matthew Lynch, Jake and Kylie McNally. She is also survived by her brother John Downs and his wife Lucille, and by her niece Jill Marcotte.

A funeral service for family and friends will be held at Conte Funeral Home in North Andover, Mass., on May 31 at 11 a.m., followed by burial at St. Mary/Immaculate Conception Cemeteries in Lawrence, Mass. Additional information may be found at www.contefuneralhomes.com.