Carol Lynne (Hughes) Pastore

It is with profound sadness deep love and gratitude for a life well lived that the family of Carol Hughes Pastore announces her passing on June 29, 2026 from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Although the disease robbed her of her mobility and shortened her life, it never took away her faith, sense of humor, kindness or generosity of spirit and love for her family and friends.

Carol began life in her hometown of Felton. She stayed loyal to her quaint small town throughout her lifetime. Briefly she lived in New Jersey but always had intentions of returning to her roots. She graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1974. Her career choice led her into banking at The Felton Bank and J.C. Penney National Bank. She discovered her true calling later in life when she graduated from Catonsville Community College with a degree in Mortuary Science in 1993.

She worked as a funeral director for Berry-Short Funeral Home for 27 years. Her dedication and devotion to the families she served in the funeral industry was exemplary. Her colleagues and families she served loved her. She continued to serve in the funeral industry in a different capacity when she went to work for William V. Sipple and Son Monuments in Milford, Delaware as a sales consultant. She retired in June of 2025, just five months before her diagnosis.

Carol was preceded in death by her loving husband, George Carey “Hack” Haggerty; her parents, Margaret and Charles Ware; biological father, Mervin Hughes; her brothers, Ronald and Larry Hughes.

She is survived by her sisters, Sandra (Rob) Kramer of Dover, Pamela (David) Kaplan of Lewes with whom she lived, Jennifer (Wesley) Herholdt of Milford, Deborah (James) Smith of Felton; her nieces and nephews to whom she was devoted; companion of 16 years, John Pender; and her amazing group of girlfriends with whom she shared over 50 years of friendship.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 1pm at Calvary Wesleyan Church in Harrington, Delaware, where a time of visitation for friends and family will begin at 11am. Interment will be private.

Many thanks to the amazing team at the Weinberg ALS Clinic at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia for the excellent care they provided as well as the Delaware Hospice Center staff for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers donations are suggested to: ALS United (ALS united.org), Team Gleason (teamgleason.org), the research team of Dr. Hristilena Ilieva at the Weinberg ALS Center (giving.jefferson.edu), and the Delaware Hospice (Delawarehospice.org).

Arrangements are in the care of Berry-Short Funeral Home in Felton, Delaware. Online condolences may be shared online at: www.shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com