Carole (LaPlante) Shea, 63, of Manchester, died Saturday, (October 22, 2005) after a courageous battle with Cancer. She was born May 1, 1942 in Hartford, daughter of the late Arthur and Stephanie (Medenski) LaPlante and had lived in East Hartford before moving to Manchester 43 years ago. She was predeceased by a brother Arthur LaPlante Jr. and a sister Gail Nancy LaPlante. Mrs. Shea was retired from the Hartford Board of Education nearly eleven years ago. Carole enjoyed gardening, photography, painting, traveling the New England countryside and loved gourmet cooking. She leaves two sons, Stephen M. Shea and Kevin P. Shea both of Manchester, a brother Jack LaPlante and his wife Pat also of Manchester, a sister Sandra Gray and her husband Dalton of Dixmont, ME., a sister-in-law Karen LaPlante of Enfield, two grandchildren, Rebecca Shea of Waterville, ME. and Matthew Shea of Manchester, nieces and nephews, John LaPlante of West Hartford, Suzanne LaPlante, Brian LaPlante and Michelle LaPlante all of Glastonbury, Travis LaPlante of Enfield, James Lockwood and Kathy Lockwood both of Massachusetts. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 27 at 8 p.m. at the Watkins Funeral Home, 142 East Center St., Manchester. Calling hours will be Thursday at the funeral home from 6 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be private in the East Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., P.O. Box 1004, Meriden, CT. 06450.Published in the Hartford Courant on 10/25/2005.