Cara Crandall

Cara Crandall ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Douglass Funeral Service on Mar. 16, 2026.In Italian, "cara mia" means my beloved. Our beloved Cara slipped from this world surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones on March 6, 2026. To say she loved life was an understatement. She embraced all aspects of this crazy ride and spent much of her life trying to make the world a better place. One way she did this was through her dedication to the craft and magic of teaching, which she studied as a practitioner and theoretician earning her doctorate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Cara welcomed students into her classroom at every grade level and dedicated her work to social justice, which led her to work with the Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights. Cara's true calling was to support students to find and use their voice. She found her voice through her writing and used her writing to tell the stories of her life that mattered to her.She was predeceased by her sweet husband Léo Héroux and her parents the Revs. Charles and Rose Sasso-Crandall.Her true joy, though, was her dear, sweet son Andrew David Crandall. She adored her sister Colette and brother-in-law Craig Abrams. She enjoyed so much laughter and the making of memories with friends and cousins near and far.Her life will be celebrated at Grace Church, 11 Boltwood Lane, Amherst, MA on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11am.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Cara to any of the following organizations:The Saint Lucy's SocietyIn memory of Cara Crandall203 Endicott StreetBoston MA 02113Hope Lodge in Bostonhttps://cancer.org/hopelodgebostondonateThe Trustees of Reservationshttp://www.thetrustees.orgThe Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights (TOLI)https://wl.donorperfect.netMemorial guest book can be found at www.douglassfuneral.comTo plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.