BURGESS—Winnifred “Winnie” Oldaker Carrigan of Burgess passed away peacefully in her sleep Thursday, December 19, 2019. She was 89 years old.
Winnie was born in Thornburg, Iowa, to Charles and Mary Oldaker and spent her childhood in Iowa along with her siblings, Charles, Kathleen and Florence.
After attending Iowa Wesleyan College, she moved to Washington, D.C., with her two sisters and met her husband, Neil Carrigan, at Glen Echo Amusement Park. They were married February 3, 1951, and were married for 56 years.
They resided in Chesapeake Beach, Md., Falls Church, Bowie, Md., and finally in the Northern Neck, where they realized their dream of waterfront living on the Chesapeake Bay, with a large and beautiful garden. Her lifelong passion for all types of gardening gave Winnie an inner peace which she readily passed on to family and friends. She had an infectious laugh and was continually amused by the absurdities of life.
While raising seven kids, Winnie co-founded the Youth Employment Service in Bowie, was politically active in Mayor Leo Green’s administration and worked at the local Montessori School. She also volunteered as cheerleading coach in Falls Church and as a Boy’s Club soccer coach, winning their league championship. She later attended night school, earning a bookkeeping degree and enjoyed working many years at the Washington Post.
Winnie was a compassionate caregiver, not only for her seven children and husband, but also for Neil’s mother and Aunt Peggy, and Winnie’s sister, Florence.
She was pre-deceased by her parents; husband, Neil; son, Chris; and siblings, Charles Oldaker, Kathleen Rhody and Florence (Susie) Pakis.
Winnie is survived by her children, Michael (Jamie) Carrigan, Bowie; Diana Carrigan (Wayne Schmidt), Loja, Equador; Daniel Carrigan, Annapolis, Md.; Carol Carrigan (Roger Atkins), British Columbia, Canada; Timothy (Christine) Carrigan, Louisville, Ky.; and Susan (Scott) Kell, Lakeville, Maine. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
A remembrance gathering will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 1, at the Berry O. Waddy Funeral Home, 14476 Northumberland Highway, Burgess.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
