Gwendola Carroll Obituary (1925 - 2018)

Greenbush - Gwendola 'Dolly' (Bailey) Carroll, 92, the matriarch of the Carroll family as the wife of her late husband, Linwood "Bud" Carroll, went home to Heaven to meet her Lord and Savior and be reunited with her mate of 75 years on May 28, 2018. She passed of natural causes at her home with loving care of her family and personal care of workers, Janet Taylor, Charleen Wallace, Monica Smith, and the staff of St. Joseph's Hospice' helpful guidance. Mom was born on December 19, 1925, in Greenbush, a daughter of Winn and Vivian (Harris) Bailey. Mom attended Greenbush schools. She married the love of her life on July 5, 1941. She bore six children and was proud of us and all our mates. Mom lived a simple life. She and Daddy moved to Portland for a few years to get better work and provisions. They moved back to Greenbush and put together two cabins that were a part of the family's rental business. When Dad left for WWII, Mom stayed and kept the home fires burning with her two children. Her protector, she'd say, was little brother, "Skeet". This made a lifelong special bond for them. Mom took care of both her mother and father-in-law, and her dad at home until they passed. Mom's first employment was selling Avon, which pushed her to get her driver's license at age 38. Later, she received training to be a CNA. She was given her nursing cap with pin of certification. We were all very proud of her accomplishment. She was employed at Orono Nursing Home for five years and then for two decades of private duty. At age 60, Mom took swimming lessons to learn how to swim. She will fondly be remembered as the Queen Bee. Mom was predeceased by her husband, Linwood E. Carroll; her beloved daughter-in-law, Debbie Carroll; and her grandson, Clayton Madden. Mom was the daughter of Winn and Vivian Bailey. She had five half-brothers, but only one sister, of whom they cherished each other, Myrtle Diane Littlefield. All of her family predeceased her. She is proud of her six children and their mates, Janis and Gayland Madden, Donald Carroll and his special friend, Linda Smullin, Glen and Lisa Carroll, Ginger and Bob Cote, Sally and Tim Carrell, and Mark and Tina Carroll; 18 grandchildren and their mates, Ricky and Kelly, Ryan and Carrie, Brett and Beth, Lance and Jazzy, Jason, Allison and Josh, Tammy and Dana, Tracy and Jason, Scott and Allison, Kim and Mark, Chad and Michelle, Clint and Krista, Stephanie and Sheldon, Amanda and Jared, Andi and Natalie, Caleb, and Austin; 34 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She has one surviving niece of whom she loved dearly, Irene Williams, of Portland, and one nephew, Norman Milliard, of NH. Gifts in Mom's memory may be made to River of Life Bible Camp, 24 Michaud Lane, Howland, ME 04448. Friends may visit from 2-3 p.m. on Friday, June 1, 2018, at the Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town, where a funeral service will be conducted at 3 p.m. A celebration of life reception will follow at the Helen S. Dunn School, Greenbush. Private interment will be at Greenbush Cemetery, Route 2, Greenbush.