Carolyn Neva Zeman

Carolyn Neva Zeman, 79, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, passed away on November 21, 2025, at Winchester Hospital, Winchester (Boston area), Mass., after an illness of several months. Her general health had been in decline since suffering a stroke in 2021. Carolyn was born in Oklahoma City on September 8, 1946, to William and Neva Zeman. Carolyn grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where she attended Garfield Elementary, Central Junior High, and College High schools, graduating in 1964. She graduated with distinction from Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa) with a B.A. in History and was a loyal and active Grinnell alumna. Following college, Carolyn, who possessed exceptional verbal ability, wit, and memory, aspired to attend law school and become an attorney like her father. However, bound by the restrictive norms of the 1960's, she was ultimately discouraged from pursuing that path. She went on to earn a Masters degree in Demography from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters in Art Therapy from Lesley University (Cambridge). Carolyn worked for many years for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in Boston in the field of psychiatric care, and she was a volunteer leader of small therapy groups. Carolyn loved to travel and did not shy away from traveling alone. She made extensive trips covering North America and virtually all of western Europe, including a summer tour of Europe as a new college graduate. She also joined archeological digs in the Southwest. Carolyn was a diehard Celtics and Patriots fan, watching every game on television, if not attending. She closely followed world events and could converse with anyone on anything. Carolyn thoroughly enjoyed life, the cultural and intellectual scenes of Boston, her family, her friends and acquaintances. Carolyn is survived by her brother, Joe Zeman (wife Jeanne, deceased), of Norman, OK. two nieces, Cheryl Egebrecht (husband Rick, deceased) of Limon, CO, and Carrie Gilkey (and husband Greg) of Norman; and her great-niece, Nicole Gilkey, of Norman, a sophomore at Drake University in Iowa. Graveside services will be held for Carolyn at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13th, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville, OK. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home and Crematory Walker-Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com

Carolyn Neva Zeman

September 8, 1946 - November 21, 2025