Mary Alice Ladd of Bridgton, Maine, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011 in her home surrounded by her loving children. Known as Molly to her friends she was born in Fremont, Ohio on Jan. 1, 1932, to Colonel Henry and Elizabeth Smith. Mary attended Ross High School. She went on to further her education at Bowling Green University, graduating as a teacher with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. Throughout her life Mary pursued her love of gardening, music, antiques and, of course, her children. After living in such varied places as Germany, an island in Lake Erie, an Indian res-ervation in Arizona and the island of Puerto Rico, Mary made her final home with her family in Bridgton, Maine. She loved the changing of the seasons and reveled in the planting of her gardens on a warm summer day, or the quiet of freshly-fallen snow. She was known for her beautiful singing voice as well as her generosity in giving away plates of won-drous Christmas cookies during the holidays. Most of all she is remem-bered as a mother who instilled in her children the values of hard work, kindness and patience.

She is survived by her five children: Katherine Fitzcharles, Matthew Ladd, Brian Ladd, Padraic Ladd and Nathan Ladd. She is also survived by her sister Betsy Shelak, as well as her grandsons Robert, Grant and Ian Fitzcharles, her first granddaughter Mary Victoria Ladd, and her great-granddaughter Allie Fitzcharles.

Her services will be private.