Carolyn Mann Gaudet, 88 of Nashua, NH passed away peacefully at her home on June 30, 2026. She was born October 30, 1937 in Methuen, MA, the daughter of Bernard F. Mann and Bertha Riedel Mann both of Lawerence, MA. Carolyn grew up in Salem, NH and attended Woodbury HS. She learned to be independent at an early age by not only helping her father build their house, but sewing her own clothes and also making her own automotive repairs.

Carolyn married Paul Thayer Cilley of Lebanon, NH in 1957. She was a Home Economics and Art Education major at Keene State College, and he was an English and Theater major at Keene. Their daughter, Amber Lee Cilley, was born in 1958. They divorced just five years later.

After college she happily taught Elementary Art in the Nashua Public Schools for 30 years. At one point the superintendent asked her if she would be interested in the Art Department Supervisor role and she said, “No way, the classroom is where all the action is! I love working with children!” During the summers she taught in the Head Start Program. She also taught and helped to coordinate exhibits for the former Nashua Arts & Science Center. She made sure her daughter grew up to be independent as well. Amber assisted in her after school and summer teaching positions and later taught jewelry classes there on her own as a teenager.

In 1977, as Amber was headed off to UNH, Carolyn married John J. Gaudet of Everett, MA. John was an engineer for Sanders (now BAE) in Nashua and had six children from his first marriage, so the family grew exponentially. As of present there are 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren on the Gaudet side of the family. They were married 24 years when John passed in 2002.

In 1985, Amber married J. Michael Wenger of Lancaster, PA and in 1992 and 1996 Carolyn had grandchildren of her own: Andrew J. Wenger and Matthew R. Wenger respectively.

Carolyn served as President of the Nashua Garden Club several times and President of the Nashua Theatre Guild. She was an active member of the Nashua Unitarian Universalist Church were our beloved Rev. Donald Rowley conducted the weddings of both John & Carolyn's marriage and later Amber & Mike's.

Artistically she painted in watercolor, acrylics, oils, pastels and enjoyed working in plein air. She also worked in three dimensions - she was skilled in making figurative sculptures from clay and even has two bronze pieces to her credit. One is on display at Greeley Park in Nashua, in the Sensory Garden created by The Nashua Garden Club, "Anatomy of an Iris". The bronze relief sculpture shows a Bearded Iris with each of it's parts shown separately and labeled in Braille and English.

Carolyn had many talents; one year she entered the Miniature Garden portion of the Boston Flower Show and earned Honorable Mention. She planned and executed three weddings including Amber & Mike's in Nashua, one in a helicopter hanger & a huge tent in the yard next to it and one at the VFW Hall on Long Island, Maine. She especially loved any opportunity to arrange flowers! And finally, in her words, her biggest production was her daughter, Amber, “a true jewel, well not exactly, amber is a resin, (my) Amber, a joy always.”

Having had a bad summer dealing with asthma, she decided to stop working summers and happened to be in he right place at the right time one Saturday in October when she was headed out to Long Island (Maine) on the Casco Bay Lines ferry to look for property. One conversation on that ferry ride lead her to acquire a boarded up place, which she turned into a wonderful summer retreat. For over 50 years she thoroughly enjoyed her time at that west-end cottage, but most of all she loved the people and the wonderful sense of community.

Two years after retiring from Nashua (at age 55) she started teaching Art every other week at the Long Island Elementary School. For several years she and John would make the 3 hour trip from Nashua to Long Island even in the winter. She curated the Dodwell Gallery, there on the island for five years (2012 to 2016) and even started the much loved Long Island House Tour.

Carolyn & John designed and helped with the execution of extensive changes not only to the cottage on Long Island but to their home in Nashua. She gardened at both locations and also at the community garden on Long. Friends, neighbors and passers-by would always comment on her island lilacs, peonies, English Cottage roses and hydrangeas depending on the month.

She was an avid reader, particularly of art books and magazines, an excellent photographer, seamstress (known for making dresses for proms and theater productions for Amber, curtains and quilts) and jewelry designer and fabricator. She succeeded in making a full wood panel of five stained glass windows at Haystack School of Crafts. At one point she even started her own small company, Toad Knoll Designs.

Parties were plentiful including costume, tea, pool, garden and especially "Camp Gaudet" themed family gatherings at both homes. She also loved German Shepherds (she had four), Jaguar automobiles (she had 3) and lots of bangled sterling silver bracelets! Carolyn and John loved to travel. Hopefully they are reunited now and whisking all through the heavens!

Sadly her dear younger brother, Robert B. Mann, died during the Vietnam War. During his deployment he was credited for rescuing ten soldiers. He was awarded the Soldiers Medal, two Air Medals, the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. Bertha, Bernard, Carolyn and Amber loved him very, very much! He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, friend, and soldier! Amber and Michael moved into 173 Lund Rd. Nashua, NH 03060 to care for Carolyn in 24’. Andrew, now in Wolfeboro, NH is engaged to Jackie Fischer of Rutland, MA. They have a son, James Ray (JR), Carolyn's great-grandchild! Matthew is married to Isabelle Murphy of Belmont, MA and they live in Chelmsford, MA.

Family, friends, neighbors, students and former colleagues please feel free to join us for… “Carolyn, A Celebration of the Life of an Artist”. We will be have a casual luncheon and celebration service Columbus Day Weekend, Sunday, October 11 at 1 pm at the Long Island Learning Center Auditorium. There will also be an opening reception in the Dodwell Gallery for a two week exhibit of her artwork. At noon a Casco Bay Lines Ferry (in Portland) can take you out to Long Island. Drivers at the dock will transport you to the location, just look for a sign that says “Carolyn”. If time allows you are invited to join us back at the cottage. We will help you get any ferry you need to return to Portland. It is a short down hill, ten minute walk from either location as well. (No return tickets are needed when returning to Portland.)

For those who wish to honor her memory please consider making a donation to the Long Island Community Library and Dodwell Gallery, 7 Gorham Ave., Long Island ME 04050 or to Changing Tide, P.O. Box 279, Long Island, ME 04050 or to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth St. 16th Floor, NY, NY 10001 or to Home Health & Hospice Care, 2 Executive Park Dr. Merrimack NH 03054. ……We will all miss her energetic, creative and loving spirit!

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Nashua.

To view Carolyn's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.