Caroline Ina Hawes

Caroline Ina (nee Graham) Hawes, 96, of Elyria, Ohio, died Monday, May 5, 2025. She was born in Pontiac, Michigan, on April 5, 1929.

Caroline lived a full life and believed that through positive thinking and hard work, everyone can achieve their vision in life. She was an amazing and unique person and always had interesting stories that reflected her life experiences and many adventures. She didn’t act her age; she acted the age she felt. 

In 1968, the family moved from Western Michigan to Elyria, Ohio. Caroline was the Program Director American Cancer Society (Lorain County Unit) and later took a position in accounting at Allen Memorial Hospital in Oberlin.

She joined the Mountain Mommas hiking group in the 1970s. Many of their week-long adventures took them across the USA and Canada. These trips included The Bruce Trail in Tobermory, Ontario, Canada, near Georgian Bay - one of the most treacherous parts of the Bruce Trail. Over the years, the Mountain Mommas continued visiting various national parks and destinations around the United States. Caroline loved to travel!  She traveled throughout Europe many times, but especially enjoyed a trip to Jerusalem with members of her church.

Helping others was important to Caroline, which led to her career in nursing. In 1977, at the age of 48, she received her RN nursing degree from Lorain County Community College (LCCC). She worked as a registered nurse for 32 years until her retirement at the age of 80. Caroline was grateful to God and to LCCC for her nursing education. Her generous spirit made a lasting impact on Lorain County Community College and the broader region by sponsoring the “Caroline’s Gratitude to God” Scholarship to support the educational endeavors of future nursing students at LCCC. Most recently she was a registered nurse at Lorain Community Hospital (currently Mercy Health), in addition to her RN responsibilities, she was active in their Healing Hands Ministry. As a Reiki Master, she used her Reiki and Healing Touch skills.

Caroline won the crown of Ms. Senior Ohio in 1991. Her talent was humor, and she loved telling humorous stories and jokes. She also represented the State of Ohio in the Ms. Senior America pageant in Atlantic City, NJ

Caroline was a fun and talented lady. She loved to dance, especially the jitterbug, polka and tap dancing. She was an avid reader of non-fiction and loved history and biographies. Playing the card game “Blitz” with her Friday night group at the VFW gave her many fond memories.

She learned to snow ski with her children when she was in her 40’s, enjoyed motorcycling her motorcycle endorsement until her death. She even mastered riding a unicycle.

At the age of 92, Caroline was still riding her bicycle around the neighborhood. She loved music and loved to sing.  She played cello, piano, organ, and played in the church handbell choir. She was an active in many local choruses including The True North Chorus, The Singing Seniors Chorus, and she was a forty-year member of The Lake Ridge Chapter of the Sweet Adelines in Lorain County.

She belonged to many organizations and volunteered for many charities. She founded and developed the Muskegon County, Michigan chapter of the American Diabetes Association. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1662 (Amherst) and volunteered at Elyria First Congregational UCC food pantry.  She was raised in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and later became a member of First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) in Elyria. Caroline’s participation in many groups and activities rewarded her with lifetime friendships.

Caroline is survived by her children Brad (Ginny) Hawes, Dawn Hawes, and Brian Hawes; grandson Jason (Jenny) Hawes; granddaughter Jacque (Colton) Rooney; great-granddaughter, Maeve Rooney, and her many dear friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Alma Graham; husband Robert “Bob” Hawes (1980); son Gary Robert Hawes (1982); grandson Jonathan Robert Hawes (2012); brothers Reid Graham, Harry Graham, John Graham, Charles Graham, Frank Graham, and Dr. Robert Graham.

The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful and loving care she received from the staff at The Abbewood Assisted Living Facility of Elyria.

Leading in this tribute to Caroline’s Life will be administrators from Lorain County Community College and the Rev. Nathan A. Russell, Senior Pastor of Washington Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and will be Friday, May 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM in the lobby of Lorain County Community College’s Norton Culinary Institute, 1005 N Abbe Rd, Elyria, Ohio. 

Memorial contributions may be made to LCCC Foundation, 1005 N Abbe Road, CC220, Elyria, Ohio 44035; please note Caroline's Gratitude to God in the memo line or online at www.lcccfoundation.org; go to the drop down on the giving menu for "Caroline's Gratitude to God".

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