Carol Anne Porter

Carol Anne Porter, age 76, of Burlington NJ, passed away on January 20, 2026. Born in Passaic and raised in Garfield, daughter of John and Anna Hoc, Carol established a long lasting friendship and sisterhood with Joelle O’Brien and Patty Slowik Danis.

Graduating from Garfield “Boilermakers” High School in 1967, Carol decided to pursue a degree in education as a teacher. Carol attended and graduated from Glassboro State College in 1971. While attending Glassboro, Carol met her future husband, Joe Porter, in Dr. Duff’s Human Behavior class in 1967. She and Joe were married in 1971 and lived in Runnemede, New Jersey. 

Carol’s first teaching job was in Williamstown High School, where she started the Freshman Girls Basketball Program and coached in 1976. After Williamstown, Carol taught at Burlington County Vocational School. In 1975,

Carol and Joe built a home in Burlington Township. In 1978, their daughter, Diana, was born and Carol stayed home to raise her. 

In 1983, Carol returned to Burlington County Institute of Technology - Westampton Campus. In her 30 years at BCIT, Carol was the head teacher of the History Department, assistant bowling coach, assistant girls basketball coach and ultimately became Teacher of the Year in the 2007-2008 school year. 

Carol’s list of work achievements is so incredibly long. Just to include a few others because she loved teaching more than anything, Carol held mock elections, chaperoned many school dances & field trips such as to the Old Barracks Museum, Jamesburg, Washington’s Crossing, was a night school advisor/teacher where students earned a high school diploma (not a GRE), led the Voice of Democracy, VICA advisor, Class Advisor for the classes of 1987 & 1991, Vo-Tag Mentor, Human Relations Committee, Admissions Committee, District Mentor, and piloted the program for teaching in block scheduling. Carol established many special teacher friends at BCIT, including Mary Beth Mohan, Susan MacDonald, Joe Venuto, Doug Wolan, Deborah Kwartin, and so many other amazing individuals who became family. 

Not only was Carol a natural born history teacher, but she also was a Sunday School Teacher at The Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross in Medford, NJ, where she also served on the church council. Carol was also a member of Phi Alpha Theta ~ Graduate History Honor Society, NJEA Technology Committee, BCITEA President and Association Rep, NJ Council of Social Studies ~ Served as a Treasurer and on the Board of Directors and also was the liaison to the 75th Anniversary for Women’s Suffrage; presenter at the National Conference, Member of the Burlington County Historical Society & Roebling Historical Society, James Madison Memorial Fellow through American University, studied at Rutgers University for History and US Constitution PD, and even attended a summer program at Harvard University Graduate School of Education 1999. 

Carol’s special loves were her grandchildren, the first being Owen Archer, the sparkle to her life. Carol loved to take many special trips to the zoo, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Thousand Islands, Atlantic City, National Parks and so many other places including Europe, with Owen every chance she could. Carol was also blessed to gain two more grandchildren, Joey and Cecilia McCarty in 2021, when she and the family traveled to the Grand Canyon where Diana and Pauly McCarty were married. Diana’s husband, Pauly McCarty, was a special addition to the Porter family, who she loved like a son. Carol also has two very special nephews in her life, Stevie and Joey Porter, who she loved dearly. Carol loved DooWop Music & Oldies, was a fun Pack Rat and collector of anything vintage, especially old TV’s, radios, interesting history memorabilia & Russian decorations. Carol told her family that she had a blessed life with her love of teaching, traveling, religious beliefs and a beautiful family in which she shared all her memories.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Funeral service and viewing hours on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Holy Apostles Orthodox Church 17 Platt Avenue Saddle Brook, NJ. Viewing hour from 10-11am and services to begin at 11am.

Additional viewing hours and services to be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 from 9-11am at PAGE FUNERAL HOME 302 E. Union Street Burlington, NJ and burial immediately following in Odd Fellows Cemetery 4527 US Rt. 130 South Burlington, NJ.