Carole Ann Bonnell

Carole A. (Mahony) Bonnell, 86, of Manchester, NH, passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Bedford Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bedford NH, following a brief illness.

Carole was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 25,1939, the first of 5 children of her late parents, Lloyd G. and Ruth V. (Headberg) Mahony.

Carole spent her early years in Bedford, MA, prior to the family’s move to Henniker, NH, in 1954. It was at the High School in Henniker where she would meet her life-long friend and co-adventurer, Deborah “Debbie” (Spring) Reed. Following High School, Carole and Debbie attended Bay State Academy in Boston together, then embarked on a cross-country journey in Carole’s VW Bug, where they camped out along the way and visited family from Canada to California to Texas. Still up for more adventures, the pair then settled with a third friend for a time in New York City where Carole worked at the Presbyterian Hospital as a Medical Secretary. Later she also lived in New Jersey, Stowe, VT, Boston, MA, and Acton, MA. She there began a successful career with Digital Equipment Corporation in Maynard. Though Carole never had children of her own, she loved spending time with her two nieces, Heather and Trice, even serving as nanny for a time to Trice and her two older siblings. In her retirement years, and when she could no longer drive, she eventually settled in Manchester, NH, where she could maintain her independence by walking or taking the bus wherever she needed to go.

Carole was very devoted to her family and friends, maintaining lifelong friendships and connections via letters, cards and phone calls across the miles that may have otherwise separated them. Always stylish and contemporary, Carole kept up with fashion, current events, pop culture, and could easily relate to friends and family of all ages. Like her mother before her, she loved doing crossword puzzles to keep her mind sharp as well. Her wit and humor quickly made her a favorite among the nursing home staff at Bedford, where she resided for the last year of her life. Carole also loved animals, the outdoors, and music. She was known for being able to play almost any instrument by ear, and had a lovely voice as well.

Besides her parents, Carole is predeceased by her three brothers, Ronald T., Kenneth L., and Leonard C. Mahony.

She is survived by her sister Elaine F. (Mahony) Adamo (Joseph “Joey”) of Port Richey, FL; her nieces Heather A. (Mahony) Nixon (Paul) of West Townsend, MA and Trice C. (Mahony) Cave (Edward) of Kennebunk, ME; nephews Ronald and Michael Mahony, of Cape Cod, MA; uncles Lester and Lawrence Mahony, both of Mt. Dora, FL; and cousins Barry Smith (Marie) of Sterling, VA, Frances (Mahony) Potvin, James Mahony, and Lynne (Mahony) Keefe, all of Mt. Dora, FL, as well as her dear great-nieces and nephews, whom she treasured.

Carole is also survived by 2 former sisters-in-law with whom she remained particularly close through the years, Nancy (Glass) Mahony of Nashua, NH, and Mary Ellen McCarron Parrott of Andover, MA, and her dear lifelong friends, Janice “Jan” Webster and Deborah “Debbie” Reed.

Assisting the family with cremation arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH. 

Services and Interment at Forest Hill Cemetery in Derry, NH, will be held at a later date.