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Caroline Loann Demarrais, age 62, died on Oct. 7, 2026, at her home.
Oct. 7, 2026. 7:45 p.m. Caroline died last night at home with me (her husband) at her side. Her close friend Rebecca was at her side giving her comfort all day, which meant a lot to Caroline (me too).
Caroline and I did a lot of genealogical/anthropological research together and one aspect of that was something we sometimes laughed and/or complained about BAD obituaries. Somebody dies, a few people who may or may not know accurate facts give some quick input and that’s it forever after. I don’t want that to be the case with Caroline. The most beautiful person I’ve ever known in my life. Subsequently I was sending texts to Caroline a few days ago asking her to tell me the important parts of her life. Texts because she was having trouble talking but had her phone by her side. She sent me two texts and was too worn out to do any more after that. Here they are – direct from Caroline with just a little bit of paraphrasing from me.
Being a Girl-Scout and going to the National-Center West in Wyoming. This was a 15,400 acres wilderness camp near Ten Sleep in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains and closed in 1989. In 1982 she was the Valedictorian at Riverside High School 1982, Dearborn Heights, Michigan. Then in 1986 went on to graduate from MSU (Michigan State University) with a B.S. in Anthropology.
After graduating she then went on in 1988 to graduate from University of Toronto with a Masters in Museum Studies. As I understand this at the time the US had no master's programs available in Museum Studies with a focus on living history. Thus, why Caroline got her degree in Canada. She said she always felt out of place there. She got to study the “Fenian Raids” which was a big deal in Canada but here in the US rarely mentioned. It’s about people from the USA attacking Canada. Seems it made the Canadians a little cranky. I studied history and anthropology in the US and had never heard of it.
In 1989 Caroline got her first museum job. Catskill Mountain region of New York State. Hanford Mills was a genuine in 1800s water-powered grist and sawmill in East Meredith, NY. She started as the curator and left as Assistant Director in 2009. Note. It was because of her job that I met her. I heard Caroline being interviewed on the radio and her voice intrigued me. So, I sought her out thinking I’d be disappointed once I met her in person. NOPE. Exponentially the opposite.
Then in 1993 Caroline and I got together. We bought an 1800s farmhouse on a non-maintained road that had not been lived in full-time since the early 1900s. No heat, running water, or electricity when we first moved in. 1995, Oct. 21 we got married here in a barn I was half-done building. Caroline made her own dress.
Caroline became a mom to my two children, Josh and Katie Demarrais. A good one.
On Oct. 2, 2003 Caroline gave birth to Louis James Demarrais. She wanted to homeschool him after a lot of trouble we’d had with the NY public school system where Josh and Katie went. Caroline always loved Michigan and when we found out homeschooling was easier there – we agreed to move. The homeschool aspect was one benefit, but Caroline really missed Michigan and wanted to be near her parents. So away we went.
In 2014 she made the move to northern Michigan and hoped to NEVER see New York State again. In 2023 Caroline and I got diagnosed with cancer that same week. Isn’t it nice to do things together? We even got treated together at the hospital. I turned out okay and Caroline did not – fight it for three years. Near 80 rounds of Chemo which previously I wouldn’t have thought possible for a human to tolerate.
On Oct. 7, 2026, Caroline’s last words to me were ” I don’t know where I am.” I told her she was home, but it almost seems she was on her way to her new home. She was a devout Christian and was not scared of death. In fact at times, she seemed more concerned about leaving me, Louis and Wilfy (our dog) behind.
Caroline's last text to me included three other things. Us buying land in the New York Adirondack Mountains (she loved it there), us moving to Michigan northern-lower and buying land in the Michigan UP where we built a cabin (she loved the UP even more) and when she lived on Mackinac Island in Michigan.
Survived by her husband, John; three children, Louis, Katherine, Joshua; mother, Barbara Meek; sister, Kathleen (Steven) Frisch.
Cremation arrangements are being held by Bannan Funeral Home.