Carrolee Hatch

Carrolee Campana Hatch, of Denver, Colorado, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2024 just before her 96^th birthday.  Carrolee was born on March 8, 1928 in Bountiful, Utah to Anthony Cataldo Campana and Emma Stella Marcroft Campana.  Carrolee was an only child to Anthony who immigrated to America from Italy and Emma a first generation American with English and Corsican ancestry.

Carrolee was raised in the small town of Bountiful by her father who worked as a locomotive mechanic for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) and her mother a homemaker.  Her family operated a small orchard and garden and sold their fruit and vegetables in the local area.  Carrolee graduated from Davis (county) High School in 1946 and attended the University of Utah.  She met her future husband, and love of her life, Clarence Fearnley Hatch, in high school and they were married on August 27, 1947 in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Carrolee and Clarence enjoyed a wonderful life working in the orchard with her parents while Clarence also worked in the trucking and automotive industry.  They loved square dancing and having fun with friends in the years following World War II.   It was a happy time for all of America’s Greatest Generation following so many years of hardships and shortages.     

Clarence’s job took the couple to Salt Lake City, Pocatello, Idaho, Billings and Great Falls, Montana, and eventually Denver.  Three children, Toni, Ginger and Randy were born in Salt Lake City and their fourth child, Sally, was born in Billings.  Carrolee was a loving wife and mother and provided their home with all the things that made it possible for her family to live comfortably and prosper.  

One of the perks of Clarence’s job was the use of many brand-new Chevrolets.  Carrolee’s favorite was the first Chevrolet Impala debuted in 1958.  She loved driving the ’58 Impala convertible with its dual antennas and continental kit at speeds that even today would be well over the limit.  At that time, Montana had no speed limit on rural highways.

She and Clarence were accomplished gardeners and provided friends and family with delicious vegetables and advice on how to grow their own gardens.  

The family moved to the southeast Denver neighborhood of Hampton Heights in 1965 when the children were young.  That neighborhood with its close community ties and private pool was the home for many, many get-togethers and parties to celebrate just about anything if refreshments were provided.  Relationships she and her family developed with the neighbors and their children almost sixty years ago are still strong today along with friends she still has in Montana.

Carrolee is preceded in death by her father, Anthony in 1966, her mother Emma in 1983, her husband Clarence in 2012, and also proceeded in death by grandson Anthony Hatch in 1987 and great grandson Bennett McKee in 2016.

Carrolee is survived by her four children and their spouses, Toni (Kris) Hatch, Ginger (Mike) Auston, Randy (Nancy) Hatch, and Sally (Mike) Butler, grandchildren Molly Urso, Brett Hatch, Sara Hammond, Brittany Weaver, Nicholas Hatch, Amanda McKee, Camille Needs, Matthew Hatch, Brooke Williams, Garrett Neuberger, step granddaughters Dawn Butler and Alison Butler.  She is also survived by 28 great grandchildren.

Funeral services Wednesday, March 6th 10:00 am, Horan and McConaty, 3101 S Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, Colorado.  Visitation 30 minutes prior to service.  Interment Littleton Cemetery alongside her beloved husband following the funeral service.   In lieu of flowers, donations to Alzheimer’s Assoc. or Susan G. Komen Foundation will be greatly appreciated.  Please share condolences at horancares.com.