MIDDLEBURY—Carolyn G. Bean, 97, died precisely as she wished on September 27, 2026—peacefully in her sleep, at home, during a storm, with her all her faculties, and a cat curled up beside her. Even pushing 100, she was never old in spirit, still petite, perpetually cute, with a pretty smile and ready for a good laugh.

Born at Waterbury Hospital on May 22, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Donald Stuart Granniss and Mildred Hughes Granniss. Her family moved to Whittemore Road in Middlebury in 1937, where she spent a memorable childhood that she relished reliving. From an early age on, she contended that she only required two things to be content: a cat and a radio. Everything else was gravy.

At the age of 13, she followed her sister, Jean Granniss Whittemore, to the Potter School in Tucson Arizona, where she rode horses through the desert, made lifelong friends around the country and had a ball. Graduating third in her class of three, she confessed she may not have learned that much at the small girls’ boarding school. Her perfect diction, wonderful sense of humor, savvy judge of character and mastery at games of all sorts indicated a deep intelligence and active mind, nevertheless.

Carol married her husband of 60 years, Robert Bean who died in 2013, in 1953. The couple moved to their one and only home in Middlebury soon thereafter, where they welcomed three children within five years. The couple shared many interests, particularly bridge, tennis, paddle tennis and golf. A fixture at Highfield Club, Carol excelled at all she did. She was women’s golf club champion seven times. She was also active for many years in the Connecticut Women’s Golf Association. When it became time to give up competitive athletic endeavors, she did so with grace, happily making do with long walks in every season, in any kind of weather. When she brought her golf clubs to the dump, she was thrilled when a stranger instantly snatched them.

She considered herself fortunate to be born when she was. Outliving virtually all her contemporaries, her passing marks the end of an era, when good sportsmanship mattered more than winning, when good manners (especially at the table) were vitally important, and when personal relationships were more valued than things. A highly capable, independent person, she rose to all of life’s challenges with courage. She accepted change with aplomb but died perplexed by the popularity of shopping, whining and overeating.

Carol was predeceased by her entire generation of relatives and countless close friends, as well as a grandson in 2018, her youngest daughter, Liza Bean Redway, in 2020, and her son-in-law, James Redway, the following year. She is survived by a son, Scott Bean of Barrington, RI, her daughter, Suzanne Cooper, and her husband, Doug, of Woodbury. She also leaves four grandchildren, six great grandchildren, along with six nephews and nieces and their families.

The Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 2 School St., is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.munsonloveterefuneral home.com.