Carolyn Brock

Carolyn Dexter Brock died at dawn Sunday May 7, 2017 age 82 years having suffered from Lewy Body Dementia for a number of years.

She was born February 17, 1935 in Deming, New Mexico a daughter of the late Leonard and Loula Marr Dexter.

After schools there, she graduated from Oberlin and the New England Conservatory of Music. She was organist at the FirstCovenantChurch in Erie for 2 years.

In England where she lived with her husband Charles for 35 years she was Director of the City of Oxford Choir for 20 years, she was organist and choir director at MansfieldCollege, Oxford for 30 years, and music director at Wheatley United Reformed Church for 35 years. She conducted the Carillon Singers of Oxford for three months each winter until 2010. At times she was conductor of five choirs simultaneously.  She and her husband traveled in Europe and Southwest America extensively and thoroughly enjoyed their many trips with Cousin James and Jerry Zurn. She also loved Niagara on the Lake and Glimmerglass Opera in New York. They retain a home in Oxford as well as Erie.

After returning to Erie she helped various churches with music at HolyTrinityLutheranChurch in Greenville, St Paul’s Cathedral in Erie, and the UnitarianUniversalistChurch, Girard where her husband is acting minister and had a term as conductor of the Erie Philharmonic Chorus. She organized and conducted the Erie Renaissance Singers, a wonderful choir of 16 singers, for 10 years who perform locally. 

Her husband would like to thank Tiffany Thomas RN for sterling help for the past two years, and Carol Richardson RN who sat with her through difficult nights. Dr. Walter Johns IV attended her well and nurses from the Regional Home Health and Hospice were very compassionate. Also thanks to the many relatives and friends who supported her so wonderfully.

By sheer chance (or Providence) she died to the music of Gabriel Faure’s “Cantique de Jean Racine” which she conducted many times in Oxford. It was sung by the New College Oxford Choir where she and her husband attended often. It was a beautiful moment; the sun came out and her cat Louisa lay on her bed with her. Charles and Tiffany were with her.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a brother, Maitland Dexter; and two nieces, Carrie Lynn Dexter and Kelly Lee Dexter.

Friends may call at the Burton Wintergreen Funeral Home 2532 Norcross Road, Erie, Pa16510 on Wednesday from 2-4 p.m.  and 7-9 p.m. and are invited to attend a funeral service at the  Cathedral of St Paul 134 W 7^th Street, Erie, PA 16501 on  Thursday at  11:00 a.m.  with reception following. Burial in ErieCemetery at the Zurn Plot is Friday at 11:00 a.m.  for invited guests only.

No flowers please but memorials may be sent to Young Peoples’ Chorus of Erie at Penn State Behrend 16563 and/or Cathedral of St Paul Choir, EriePA16501