Carol P. Gadd, known to friends and family as Dede, died Oct. 12 at Bristol Hospital in Connecticut after a brief illness. She was 71.

A daughter of the late Frank and Eleanor Gadd, Dede was born in Detroit, Mich. on July 11, 1950 and soon moved to Manchester and then West Hartford, Conn. She graduated from Conard High School, the University of Hartford, and received her master’s degree in early childhood education from Central Connecticut State University. She worked at Discovery Center Preschool in Berlin, Conn., and became good friends with Marilyn Asal while there.

Dede spent wonderful childhood summers in Chilmark, and visited as much as she could throughout her life. In the last 32 years, she visited with her significant other, John Bower. She was the love of his life and they lived in Newington, Conn. When she and John were not on the Vineyard at the beach, on or in the water, bird watching or hiking the trails, they were doing the same in the New England area.

She and John attended Church of Christ, Congregational in Newington.

Dede will be remembered for her great heart and generosity, as well as for battling many health obstacles through her adult life.

She is survived by John Bower of Newington; her sister Emily Gadd of Bozeman, Mont. and Chilmark; her sister Frannie Demers and her husband Phil, nephews Daniel, John and his wife Dyan, great-nephew Clive, and great-niece Iris, all of Chilmark.

A service will be held at Abel’s Hill Cemetery in late spring or summer of 2022. Donations can be made to NAMI, P.O. Box 49104, Baltimore, MD 21297 or a wildlife foundation of choice.