Carol Chaudiere lived a full and inspired life and passed peacefully at 93 years on January 20, 2025.  Her childhood home was in Harrington Park, NJ but her family spent summers at her grandparent’s home in Tiverton, Rhode Island. She was the daughter of a seaman, and descendent of the notable Mayflower couple, John and Priscilla Alden.  She attended college and finishing school, as did the “finer” ladies of her time.  Though like her mother, who broke the norms as first female sailing instructor in the Tiverton area, Carol had an adventurous, creative and energetic spirit, and never felt particularly confined by society norms. Some of her money-earning adventures included commercial clamming, herring baiting aboard a fishing boat, and cooking at a coal mine.  She was a force to be reckoned with.

Carol married her first husband, high school sweetheart and “radio man”, and pioneered to the West Coast where they raised four precocious children in Seattle and Edmonds.  Carol was an unorthodox wife and mother.  In fact, her children rarely recall a time when their mother wasn’t singlehandedly remodeling their home or garden in some way, engaging in deep conversation with strangers, or loading them all up into the old station wagon for an extended camping road trip, zig-zagging all along the way in an effort to enrich them with exposure to notable national parks, museums, and landmarks.

Later in life, on a visit to Seward, AK to reconnect with her life-long college friend and fellow artist, Dot Bardarson, Carol’s life took another big turn.  Carol met her soulmate, Stu Clark, a man of similar roots, she married within 3 weeks, and with whom she would live, laugh and love for over 25 years, until his passing. They initially thrived in the Seward social, art, and political scenes, when they decided to change things up completely by relocating to Lummi Island.   Here they enjoyed life together for the rest of their golden years, ever engaging in creative design projects, family activities, and as keen members of their Lummi Island community.

A gifted landscape designer, gardener, architect and creative visionary, Carol achieved formal Interior design accreditation in her 50s.  Her home designs were unique, visually gorgeous and functionally sound and often with complex roof lines. She put her garden and home dreams down on paper in detailed architectural drawings and made them come to life. Carol was always excited, ready and willing to help guide anyone with her lifelong passion for garden and landscape design. You’ll see her designs, plants, trees, rocks, driftwood, arbors and art installations all over Lummi Island. While living in Seward for 10 years, she designed 10 new houses, each of them different.

As Lummi Islander, Carol will be remembered as an inspired creative and social participant.  She was an active member of the Ladies Civic Club, and generously volunteered many hours to the annual Garden Expo, Summer Theater Camp and decorating The Grange for Boys and Girls Club auctions, and Heritage Trust and Beach school events.

Carol is survived by her four children, Wayne, Dale, Diane, and Karen Chaudiere, as well as her grandchildren, Ashley Keithley, Aron Chaudiere, Fletcher Kurita, and Hunter Kurita. She will be remembered for her legacy of home and landscape designs. Carol's energetic spirit and creativity will be deeply missed by all who knew her.