Carolyn Ann Dixon Ingalls Gilbert passed peacefully into eternal life on May 14, 2024, at the age of 94. She leaves behind her loving family: son Jeff Ingalls and wife Patty of Medway, MA; son Ken Ingalls and wife Joan of Sullivan, ME; daughter Diane Sills and partner Emily Williams of Carlisle, MA; sisters Joan Gustafson, Sylvia Johnson, and Diane Patterson; as well as her cherished grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She will be welcomed into heaven by those who have gone before her including her first love and husband, Kenneth E. Ingalls, her second husband of 56 years and adoring supporter, Arthur J. Gilbert, and her beloved parents Mary and Robert Dixon and siblings Shirley Foss and Alden Dixon.

Carolyn was born on June 19, 1929, in Bangor, ME, and graduated from LaGrange High School in 1947. The eldest of 7 children, her focus on family started young and remained central to her happiness for the rest of her life. Whether at her summer camp in Franklin, ME or her winter home in St. Petersburg, FL, Carolyn loved to share her time and her delicious home cooking with visitors, and all who knew her understood that at Carolyn’s house, there was always room for one more.

A child of the Great Depression, Carolyn understood the value of hard work and making do. Her work ethic and indomitable will were ever present, whether picking beans at age 13 to packing ice cream at the Hood factory in high school. As a young widow, she worked the night shift as a proofreader at the Bangor Daily News in order to spend days with her young boys, later working at John Bapst H.S. where she met Art. Carolyn worked equally hard outside of work, constantly working to improve both home and self. She was especially proud of receiving her bachelor’s degree from UMass at the age of 67, the realization of a lifelong dream.

A devoted grandmother, Carolyn was the Grammy every child dreams of. She delighted in all ages, and thought each of her grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) to be the brightest and best in the world. She spent her happiest hours with her grandchildren - making biscuits, berry picking, baking pies, “special day” shopping, and playing hand after hand of cards. And of course, she always kept the candy jar and cookie cabinet filled.

Carolyn had many interests: tennis, golf, square dancing, skiing, and travel. Her Sister Trips, which spanned the US from Maine to Florida to California and occasionally included a brother, an aunt or a cousin or two, were especially dear to her. She treasured these annual gatherings, where for one week each year the Dixon girls were reunited. Carolyn's enduring Catholic faith was a cornerstone of her strength and the letters and writings she has left behind testify to her reliance on God and the Blessed Mother when faced with difficult times.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 12:00pm on June 29, 2024 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ellsworth, ME. Following the mass, there will be a reception held at Carolyn’s camp: 192 Georges Pond Rd, Franklin. All are welcome to join us. 

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