Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Carolyn Ciepiela of Annapolis, MD, passed away on October 24, 2025, at age 93. Born in Montreal, Quebec, on October 14, 1932, she began her career as a legal secretary working for the Canadian Foreign Office in Ottawa. In 1957, she accepted an assignment to serve in the Canadian Embassy in Moscow, USSR, where she met her husband, Robert Ciepiela, who was posted at the US Embassy in the Naval Attache’s Office. Thereafter, she lived the life of a Navy spouse, raising three daughters in various postings in the US, the Philippines, and Panama. After Robert retired from the Navy, she was employed by the Panama Canal Company, and when they repatriated to the US in 1980, she worked at several Dallas law firms. She completed a BA in History at the University of Texas, Dallas. They moved to Annapolis in 2003 to reside at Baywoods, where Robert passed away in 2015.

A longtime member of the League of Woman Voters (LWV), Carolyn worked passionately to maintain the integrity of the electoral process. She was instrumental in reviving the Anne Arundel chapter of the League and organized candidates forums for local and state elections – volunteer service for which she recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the LWV. At Baywoods, she was an anchor resident and participated actively in governance by serving several terms as an elected member of the Board advocating for the interests of the resident community.

Carolyn was known as a dear friend to many throughout her life. She gave easily and generously to friends who returned to her their precious gifts of kindness and care.

A memorial event will be held at Baywoods on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 3:30-5pm in Norair Hall, arranged by her daughters Catherine, Cecilia, and Marie Ciepiela. She also is survived by her grandchildren Jack and Connor Gaughan, and Ava Kaelin; her son-in-law, Andrew Kaelin; and her siblings James Wood and Barbara Wood of Ontario, Canada.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in her honor can be made to the League of Women Voters at https://donate.lwv.org/page/84107/donate/1.  


Carolyn Audrey Ciepiela

Carolyn Audrey Ciepiela

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