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It is with deep sorrow we announce the passing of Gudi Margaret Carroll, an unassuming woman with an extraordinary life. Gudi, of Williamsburg, was 80 when she died Aug. 22, 2025. She is survived by her daughter, Tina, sisters, Barbara Sommer & Monika Goedde, bothers, Alexander & Mirko Baschek, & their children.
Gudi was born in post-war Germany, in the picturesque town of Berchtesgaden. She spent her youth helping run the family flower shop. She studied floral artistry and design in her teens. In her twenties, Gudi met U. S. serviceman, Noel Carroll, while he was on tour in her hometown in Bavaria. He entered the family flower shop while Gudi was working, and sparks flew. When Noel's tour ended, Gudi used her floral arranging skills to obtain a work visa with Chambers Flower Center in Washington DC. She emigrated to America, continued to date Noel and eventually became a U.S. Citizen.
When Noel & Gudi married, Noel was assigned a two-year tour in Thailand. Gudi said it felt like a "long honeymoon". In Thailand she conceived her only child, Tina. After a few more tours and international travel, the couple returned to the United States. Here, Gudi joined her husband in employment with the U.S. Department of Defense. She thrived as an instructor and helping trainees navigate challenges associated with assignments abroad. It was a career path Gudi had a fondness and patriotism for, and she steadily moved through the ranks. Her work with the DOD extended more than 20 years.