Carolyn Inez Austin Varnerin

SIDNEY – Carolyn Inez Austin Varnerin, 87, of Sidney, Maine, passed away at Maine General Medical Center surrounded by her loving family on Nov. 18, 2025.

She was born in Pittsfield, Maine on March 29, 1938, to Carold Isreal Austin and Dorothy Drew Austin.

Carolyn graduated from Erskine Academy in 1956. After high school Carolyn was a woman with varying career interests. She worked at the Maine State Police Barracks, Stevens Girl School, and Togus Hospital as a cook. She also sold insurance for Prudential later in her career, where she received numerous awards for her salesmanship. Carolyn’s favorite position was working in her granddaughter’s childcare center when she was in her seventies. She was known to all the children in the center as Daycare Grammy.

Her biggest joys in life were her family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Carolyn was an avid reader and bird watcher. She also loved to cook and felt no one could match her culinary skills. Pie making was one of her passions, she turned her piemaking hobby into a side business selling pies to Wicked Good Restaurant located in Augusta, Maine.

Carolyn thoroughly enjoyed time spent on the ocean, she enjoyed camping at campgrounds, riding snowmobiles and motorcycles with her husband and family.

On March 18, 1977, Carolyn married Jeffrey D. Varnerin, the love of her life.

Carolyn is survived by her husband of 48 years, Jeffrey D. Varnerin; her five children, Deborah and Ricki Pomerleau of Belgrade, Carol and Donald Bean of Augusta, Jered Carr of Chicago, Ill., Catherine and Karl Dostie of Gardiner, Michael Varnerin of Augusta, and former daughter-in-law, Tanya Lennon of Albion.

Carolyn’s favorite role was that of a grandparent. She treasured her time with her grandkids and loved being their grandparent. Whether she was sitting in the stands at one of their sporting events, hosted countless sleepovers at Grammys house, and cooking goodies with her grandchildren. Carolyn will be missed by all her grandchildren, Megan Carr Martin, Chelsee Bean, Darren Bean, Courtney Pomerleau, Whitley Dostie, Jacob Lennon, and Bradley Lennon. She had many great-grandchildren that she also adored, Abigail Bucknam, Austin Bucknam, Jayden Hutchins, Morgan Lawrence, Zoey Bean, and Fiona Martin.

As a special mention Carolyn was very fond of Ryan Bucknam and Cecile Studley.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her infant son David Carr, her parents Carold and Dorothy Austin, her siblings Bernard Austin, Barclay Austin, Douglas Austin, twin wisters Jean and Jane Austin, Meredith Latlip, and Virginia Burgess.

She is survived by her sisters, Gail Skelton of Richmond and Nancy Austin of Sarasota, Fla.

Carolyn’s family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date.