Gaye Carpenter

Gaye Carpenter, R.N. died in her sleep at home in Bedford on July 25 after a long struggle with congestive heart failure.  Gaye was born in New York City on March 18, 1940 and was the daughter of Conrad and Jean Ulmer.  She became a Registered Nurse and worked as a nurse in many different settings until her retirement.

Gaye is survived by her husband Dan Smythe, Jr., by her children and their spouses, Peter and Eileen, Andy and Shelley, Matt and Monica, Dan III and Shana, Hebe and Keith Doneski, and by many grandchildren and a great grandson. Gaye was predeceased by her brother Philip Ulmer and by her sister Mary Winslow.

At First Church in Swampscott, Gaye was a co-founder of a Stephen Ministry and was also the driving force behind six mission trips to the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.
For many years, Gaye was the Parish Nurse at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Norwood and then started a Parish Nursing program at First Parish in Bedford with blood pressure screenings as well as the distribution of dozens of beautiful prayer shawls to parishioners in need of comfort.

A memorial service will be held at First Parish in Bedford on Saturday, August 4, at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to First Parish in Bedford, 75 Great Road, Bedford, MA 01730.