Caroline F. Checkoway

Newburyport - Caroline Frances (Knowles) Checkoway, 98, died in Newburyport, MA, on September 9, 2026.

Caroline was born at the Newburyport Homeopathic Hospital on High Street (later known as Worcester Memorial Hospital) in 1927, to Chester W. Knowles, Sr., and Ethel (Bent) Knowles, and grew up in Seabrook, NH. Caroline graduated from Newburyport High School in 1945, then worked in the all-female "Hytron Victory Shift" at Hytron Radio and Electronics Corporation during WWII. After the war she worked at the Chase-Shawmut Company on Merrimac Street.

Caroline married Jacob "Jake" Checkoway in 1967 and they lived for many years in the Joppa neighborhood of Newburyport. They adopted many dogs - Clown, Billy, Beau, Charlie, and Penny, among others. Caroline was especially well-loved by all the neighborhood dogs for her treats! Before her marriage to Jake, Caroline bought a house on Franklin Street, and remained loyal to The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank (now Newburyport Bank) for the rest of her life because they were the only bank willing to give a single young woman a mortgage at that time.

Caroline was an active member of Hope Community Church (formerly the First Baptist Church of Newburyport) for more than 65 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jake, her sister Catherine Field, and three brothers, Charles, George, and Chester, Jr.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Hope Community Church, 11 Hale Street, Newburyport, MA, on Thursday, October 1, at 11:30 A.M. Arrangements were made by Elliott Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport, MA 01950.