Carla Anne (Hallin) Bickford was born on June 23, 1941 in Saugus, Massachusetts to Carl and Agnes Buchanan, where she grew up alongside her beloved younger brother, Larry. While Saugus was a wonderful place to call home, her heart was always drawn to summers at the family cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee in Alton Bay. Those sun-filled days of swimming and boating shaped a lifelong love for the lake and the New Hampshire community that would later become her home.

Carla’s intelligence and drive were evident early on. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with honors in physical therapy, completing a five-year program in just four years. She began her career in White Plains, New York, before returning to the Lakes Region, where she built both a family and a legacy. With her first husband, David, she lovingly adopted two children, Jennifer and Carl, creating a family that meant the world to her.

Her professional life was marked by leadership and service. At Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro, she rose to become Department Head of Therapies, and later continued her impact as department chair at Frisbie Hospital for many years until her retirement. Through her work, she helped countless people heal and regain strength, leaving a lasting mark on her community.

Faith was another cornerstone of Carla’s life. A devoted Episcopalian, she generously gave her time and energy to All Saints Church in Wolfeboro, serving on the Altar Guild, the Vestry, and numerous other functions, including chairing the book department of the church’s annual summer fair and supporting her church family.

Carla also had a special place in her heart for animals. Her home was rarely without furry companions, from gentle Saint Bernards to cherished cats. In her later years, she shared a home she built with her husband Ed, where they enjoyed the companionship of their twin golden retrievers and beloved kitties.

Carla was predeceased by her parents and her husband Alfred. She is survived by her daughter Jennifer Johns and husband Dennis Pelletier, her son Carl Johns, and brother Laurence Hallin and his wife Catherine.

Her family would like to express their gratitude and thanks to the staff of Harmony Homes by the Bay and Unity Hospice in Durham, New Hampshire for the loving care they gave to Carla in her final days. Carla passed away peacefully at the age of 85.

In lieu of flowers please donate to St. Judes Children’s Hospital or Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood.

A celebration of life will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 258 S. Main Street in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 11:00am.