Carol S. Duston

Carol S. Duston

Hopkinton, NH - Carol Duston of Contoocook, NH, passed peacefully in her home on October 10, 2025. Carol was a special person dedicated to elementary school education and making local history accessible to everyone.

She was the only child of Dewitt and Adelaide (Boker) Smedes, born on July 27, 1928, at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. Carol and her family lived in a privileged area of Glen Rock, NJ, but the depression forced them to move to more humble circumstances, still in Glen Rock. Carol often remembers wishing she had siblings to grow up with, but she would later meet her husband and start a family of her own.

Carol graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1946 and later attended William Paterson College in Wayne, NJ, while working days. She graduated with a Teaching Certificate.

She later married Jay Clough Duston in 1951, and they lived in Waldwick, NJ. Jay was a carpenter and contractor for different businesses throughout his career. Together they raised three sons: Mark, John, and Chris Duston. All three participated in Boy Scouts and graduated from Waldwick Jr.-Sr. High School. In the 1960's, Carol served as president of Waldwick's PTA, co-authored the Waldwick, NJ historical pamphlet and taught second and fifth grade at Darter Elementary School.

Carol and Jay's household was also home to dogs, carts, tropical fish, mice and gerbils – a truly loving environment for all with memorable stories such as the appropriately named puppy "Sparky" and his love of power chords.

Carol's loving husband Jay passed in 1991 and in 1993 Carol decided to retire from teaching and moved to Contoocook, NH – memories of summer vacations spent on Lake Josylvia in the earlier years of their marriage contributed to this move.

Once in New Hampshire, Carol became president of the Hopkinton Antiquarian Society which is now known as the Hopkinton Historical Society. After stepping down from this position, she continued to be active in the Historical Society during presentations at the Contoocook Farmer's Market. She was also a supporter of the Kearsarge Indian Museum and the Little Nature Museum. Carol also took time to teach English to immigrants in Concord, NH for two years. She was also an active member of the Hopkinton Congregational Church where she helped with rummage sales and AIDS relief baby quilts.

In 1996, her son John came to live with her where she was able to take care of him after he had two back operations in 1998, a time he will always remember as an adult being cared for by his loving mother.

In 2005, Carol was experiencing some neurological issues and in her early 80's a formal diagnosis of Alzheimer's was made. John then took care of Carol for 15 years until her passing at the age of 97.

Carol is predeceased by her husband Jay (1991) and her son Mark (2023).

Calling hours will be held on Monday, October 27, 2025, from 10A-12P, and Service at 12PM, at Bennett Funeral Home, 209 N Main St, Concord NH. Burial to follow immediately at Contoocook Cemetery, Penacook St, Hopkinton NH.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Hopkinton Historical Society or to the Granite VNA.