Carole Louise Gunness Hedblom of Brunswick, ME died September 1, 2017 after a 32 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. She was 75.

Carole was born January 23, 1942 in Bizmark, ND to her parents, Evelyn and Chester Gunness. She was the sister of Barbie (Brovold) and Glenn Gunness; beloved wife of 48 years to Erland (Bud) Hedblom; she was the adored mother of Erik, Ethan, Emmett, Elise (DeRosa) and Ezra Hedblom; cherished mother-in-law of Ginger Hedblom, Leina Hedblom, Amy Laws, and Ramon DeRosa; and loved grandmother to Amelia, Phoebe, Elias, Lucy, Tucker, Evelyn, Caroline, Elik and Eland.

Carole graduated from St. Olaf College in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. Shortly after graduating she moved to San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district to pursue her dream of becoming an interior designer. Her strong disdain for illicit drugs and lewd behavior quickly brought her back to Minnesota where she worked in a laboratory at the Pillsbury Flour factory. She loved telling folks that she was “a true flour child” during the hippie movement… This was where, in 1969, she met, fell in love with, and married Bud Hedblom – nearly six years her junior and more than a foot and a half taller. Their deep mutual love, respect, and loyalty for each other was present to her last breath.

Carole was an incredible Mom to her five children. On documents that required her to fill in an occupation, she wrote “Domestic Engineer”. She was smart, thoughtful, had an incredible sense of humor, and was as stubborn as she was kind, compassionate and loving. Carole was heavily involved in the Brunswick, ME community’s Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts leadership, and volunteered as the Camp Soci Nature Nook Director for many years. Carole cheerfully fought a progressive incurable disease for decades while only allowing that she was “hanging in there”. Carole Hedblom was an indomitable spirit of strength, determination, faith and love. She is pre-deceased by her Mother, Father, Brother and Son.

Services will be held at First Lutheran Church on Auburn Street in Portland, ME on Thursday September 7th at 11:00a.m. In lieu of flowers, Carole’s family requests a donation be made in her honor to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society at www.nationalmssociety.org.

Arrangements are by Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick, where memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com.