Carolyn Meyer passed away peacefully on August 21, 2026 at the age of 84. She was a cherished mother, and grandmother to her family and a wonderful friend to many in the hearing loss community.After losing her hearing to Meniere’s disease, Carolyn reached out to the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) for help. Local HLAA members introduced Carolyn to cochlear implants.
After Carolyn’s successful implant surgery, she was able to communicate again and to reestablish a very active life. As a way of giving back to others, she and her beloved husband, Joe, became strong supporters of the organization, particularly its Pennsylvania state office, HLAA-Pennsylvania. Carolyn served for 20 years on the Advisory Council of HLAA-Pennsylvania and was the organizer of Lunch and Learn, an event held annually until its disruption by Covid-19. Carolyn enlisted the educational speakers and the exhibitors which demonstrated the latest technological advances so important in enabling speech comprehension for hard of hearing people.
Together with the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Carolyn was instrumental in planning the 5 employment conferences HLAA-Pennsylvania held in cities throughout Pennsylvania. These conferences provided information and resources to help hard of hearing people succeed in the workforce. In 2006 Carolyn helped plan the first Walk4Hearing in Pennsylvania, an event that has grown and been held annually ever since. Of course she continued to work on subsequent Pennsylvania walks for many years. Carolyn was also president of the Philadelphia I chapter of HLAA for many years, providing information and support to many hard of hearing people in the Elkins Park and Montgomery County region.
To honor her husband of 54 years, Carolyn established the Joe Meyer Memorial Grant which provided funding each year to help Pennsylvania residents with hearing loss purchase assistive listening and alerting technology or to attend a college or technical institute.
Carolyn will be best remembered as a caring friend, one who went out of her way to help others no matter how big or how small the problem. She greeted us with a bright smile and was genuinely interested in your response when she asked you how you were doing. She loved family, flowers and people. Carolyn, your many friends will always miss you, as we remember the good times we had together through so many years.
Condolences may be sent to her daughter, Cindy, at the following address:
Cindy Bryton Chafetz
1617 Conquest Way
Fort Washington, PA 19034
Contributions in her memory may be made to:
Hearing Loss Association of America Pennsylvania State Office
and sent to:
Mitch Bilker, Treasurer
HLAA-Pennsylvania
821 Rosehill Drive
King of Prussia, PA