Wilder, VT – Carol McCandless, 78, of Wilder, Vermont, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on November 24th. Born on November 9, 1947, in Buffalo, NY, she was the daughter of Arthur and Jane Batts. Carol grew up in Schenectady before moving to Cape Cod in 1967. She was a graduate of The Knox School and Mount Ida College.
Carol is survived by her sister, Amy Batts of Harwichport, MA. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Jimmy Batts.
In 1969, she married Dave McCandless, and together they raised two daughters. Jessica McCandless of Canaan, NH, and April McCandless of Holyoke, MA. Though they later divorced, they remained good friends.
For more than a decade, Carol worked at Just Paradise Salon, where her friendly smile, easy humor, and welcoming presence was appreciated. She had a gift for making people feel seen and valued, and her laugh could brighten even the hardest days. She never met a stranger, only friends she hadn’t gotten to know yet.
Carol adored her grandsons, Gavin and Garrett, who filled her days with pride, stories, and unconditional love. She loved the color pink, browsing the shops, and sharing a good laugh. Her warmth, and the way she made people feel at home will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
A Celebration of Life will be held on May 2, 2026, with details to follow.
A special thank you to the staff at Hanover Terrace who treated her like family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions toward Carol’s Celebration of Life would be deeply appreciated. Donations may be made via Venmo at @CelebrationForCarol, and inquiries may be directed to CelebrationForCarol@gmail.com.
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