Carol L. Ford ... active community volunteer; at 81

ROCHESTER - Carol L. (Clement) Ford, 81, of Rochester, died Thursday, July 13, 2023, peacefully in her home surrounded by family after a three-year decline from a rare brain disease, Corticobasal Degeneration.

Born on Jan. 31, 1942, in Danvers, Mass., she was a graduate of Danvers High School, and attended the University of Maine. She moved to Rochester in 1972 to raise her family.

She was a manager at Waldenbooks. In 1990, she became a real estate agent at Brookside Realty (then Kendall and Hourihane Cormier), where she met her loving and devoted life partner of the past 33 years, Bob Ryder.

Carol engaged in her community. She was a volunteer for many years at the Homeless Center for Strafford County, a recipient of the Rochester Rotary Paul Harris Fellows Award, a supporter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation (three-time breast cancer survivor), the American Heart Association, the Frisbie Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and the Rochester Opera House.

She enjoyed family vacations in the Caribbean and Wells Beach. Carol and Bob traveled to many places of shared interest. She was an avid reader, a pianist, and a doll collector. Christmas was a special holiday for Carol, and she always went all out for it. She took great pride in her beautiful home, having decorated it herself and in the landscaping of her exquisite gardens. She enjoyed her monthly Recipe Club gatherings with her group of special friends. She was a dog lover, having had seven of them throughout her life. She was lovingly known to her six grandchildren as Meme, they all had their "special nights" with her growing up.

Carol's happy place was The Oasis in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She first started going there 62 years ago at the age of 19. Later in life, she spent much of the winter there with her sister, Marsha. They enjoyed their outings to the flea markets and casinos.

All those who knew Carol were touched by her kindness, patience, and generosity.

She leaves her life partner Bob Ryder of Rochester; her two daughters, Terri Atwood and Kathy Ford of Rochester; her son Malcolm Ford Jr. and his wife Julie Ford of Milton; her sister and brother-in-law, Marsha and Henry McDermott of Danvers; her brother and sister-in-law, Chuck and Pat Clement of Wolfeboro; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; Bob's son, Ryan Ryder and his wife Tracie Ryder and their three children of Somersworth. Carol was predeceased by her parents Charles Vernon and Barbara Clement, and her son-in-law Brian Atwood.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you and deep gratitude to Carol's caretakers, Lucinda Borrone and Betty Clark, whose support allowed Bob to fulfill Carol's wishes of being at home until the end.