Marian Carol Gifford Donohoe

Marian Gifford (Carol) Donohoe of Oriskany, N.Y. passed peacefully at home in her sleep on November 22, 2025. She was born to Malcolm E. Gifford Sr. and Helen Smart Gifford on April 28, 1942. She graduated from Whitesboro High School in 1960. Subsequently Carol attended Utica College and Marcy State Hospital School of Nursing to graduate in 1963, and was employed at Marcy Psychiatric Center as a registered nurse.
Marian and Brian Donohoe were married in St. Paul's Catholic Church in Whitesboro, N.Y. They resided in Whitesboro prior to moving to Stittville, N.Y. Upon arrival of a son, Sean, and daughter, Kimberly, she resigned her position at Marcy to bring up the children. For a time, she remained a stay at home mother, and being a mother was always her priority. After five years in Stittville, we moved to South Trenton to "our own home", a one family home, and another decorating challenge and two acres for her to mow while Brian was running wire. When the children were in middle school, Carol worked part-time at Faxton Hospital, in a doctor's office, at Marcy Hospital, and with Oneida County as a registered nurse. She also worked for the Town of Trenton Court as a court clerk. Seventeen years later, the move was to Oriskany to be closer to Brian's parents. That was a large home to decorate with not so much lawn. Fourteen years down the road the decision was made to leave the house we loved to move to the farm. An extensive addition was drawn up by Carol AND she finally had more acreage.
Carol was well versed at many types of crafts: ceramic villages, tole painting, cutting out pull toys on HER scrollsaw and painting them: one for each grandchild. She was an excellent painter, which Brian appreciated!
She and Brian travelled to many NASCAR races, which she tolerated. Together, they spent summers camping in the Adirondacks and St. Lawrence until Sean and Kim were teens and school events became the priority. Although she was not a "car person", she dove right into the restoration of the Ford Station Wagon which had been on Brian's back burner. Again she did a lot of the stuff like sanding, varnishing, and tirelessly painting the many intricate details. We travelled to Hershey, Charlotte, Minnesota, and many other places showing the car. As an excellent and meticulous housekeeper, she did the same cleaning of the car for judging while Brian talked to people. In between the car trips, we annually spent a week in Cape Cod for over twenty years. We hit every antique shop from Falmouth to P-town, and knew all the best eating places.
For nearly fifty years, Carol hosted Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinners at her homes. Holidays were magical with Easter egg hunts, Christmas activities, and all of the trimmings for children, grandchildren, and all of her siblings and families. As mentioned earlier, she used her architectural skills planning the addition to our old farmhouse and was most proud of her one-room schoolhouse which she outfitted with vintage furniture. Carol loved to see the grandchildren play teacher and students in it! She was no stranger to yard work. Carol had a flower garden visible from the kitchen window and would make changes to get it "just right". Her favorite job was mowing on her John Deere tractor, and Brian knew to leave her area alone.
Carol's memberships include American Legion Auxiliary Post 1448, Early Ford V8 Club of America, Regional Group 59 and Antique Automobile Club of America.
Carol was predeceased by her parents, Malcolm Gifford Sr.and Helen Gifford, in-laws, Joseph and Rosemary Donohoe, brother and sister-in-law Robert Lee and Carole Gifford, brother Malcolm Eugene "Tim" Gifford Jr., brother Walter Scott Gifford, brother William Smart Gifford, and brother Jon Gordon Gifford. She is survived by her husband Brian J. Donohoe, her children and spouses, Sean and Kyanne Donohoe and Kimberly and Edward Donohue. She leaves her grandchildren, who she always held close to her heart: Patrick and Liz Donohoe, Kyle Donohoe and Sydney, Casey and Jackson Parker, Griffin Donohue and Juliet, Courtney Donohue, Ryan Donohue, Cora Bazinet and Teyeh Schiffer. Carol also leaves her sister, Ann Gifford, and two sisters-in-law, Mary Jeff Gifford and Dona Schaub Gifford. Surviving in addition are a special niece and nephew and their families: Amy and Derek Arnold and Victoria and Sam, and Matthew and Beth Gifford and Will, Ben, and Fred.
Carol's family wishes to thank Drs. Amita and Atul Butala, Dr. Ashok Patel, and Dr. Tatyana Antonevich for their wonderful and compassionate care over many years.
Calling hours will be held this Friday, November 28, 2025 at Dimbleby Funeral Home, Main St., Whitesboro, N.Y. from 3-7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Whitesboro, N.Y. the next day, Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 11:30 a.m., with burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 70 Wood Rd., Whitesboro, N.Y.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oriskany Fire Department, 708 Utica St., Oriskany, N.Y. 13424 or to Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 7489 East South St., Clinton, N.Y. 13323.
Memorial Tributes and Messages of Sympathy may be left at www.dimbebyfh.com.