Molly Dye

Much loved mother, wife, grandmother, sister and aunt, Molly W. Dye departed at the front end of a raging Nor’easter on February 22, 2026. A resident of her beloved Southern Vermont, she and her husband of 70+ years David R. Dye lived in Whitingham for the past 28 years.

Molly was born July 16, 1935 in Buffalo, NY and raised in Orchard Park, NY. She attended Orchard Park High School where she and Dave met as teens. Molly grew up as an enthusiastic boater, swimmer, skier, skater, equestrian, knitter and artist. At Bennington College she studied painting, ceramics and early childhood development. She completed her studies with a BS in Art History at Purdue University having joined Dave as a Boilermaker after their marriage in 1955.

She and Dave raised three girls in Old Greenwich, CT. while working as a preschool teacher at St.Paul’s Episcopal Church of Riverside and Temple Sinai of Stamford. Always active, she played tennis, sailed, ran swim meets, attended horse shows and volunteered with schools and other organizations. The Town Beach, Greenwich Cove and summer swim club Rocky Point were her special places to enjoy Long Island Sound, friends and sunshine.

In 1972 Molly and Dave built a vacation home in Wilmington, VT, where she instilled in her daughters the love of outdoors in winter. The whole family enjoyed skiing the slopes of Haystack, Hogback and Berkshire East. Annual trips to Cape Cod and the coast of Maine were also favorite times where Molly and Dave created special memories with the family through the decades.

Upon retirement, Molly and Dave moved permanently to Whitingham, VT. Inspired by nature all around their hill top home Molly became an accomplished, well regarded and renowned rug hooker. Although activities like tennis took a back seat, along with other pursuits such as following of the Northeast Horse Pull circuit and amazing world travel , Molly kept up with volunteering by supporting Historic Deerfield, Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum, Old Sturbridge Village, Deerfield Valley Farmer’s Day Fair, Pettee Memorial Library and the Ladies Benevolent Society. Always hands-on and busy Molly loved to bake, knit, sew, garden and feed the feathered neighbors.

Predeceased by daughter Sydney, brother Alan M. Ward Jr and sister-in-law Joan R. Ward, along with other family members and wonderful friends, Molly lived a very full and long life! She is survived by her husband David, daughters Wendy C. Dye (Chris Winget), Jennifer W. Dye (Victor Thomas), grandchildren Russell, Ainsleigh & Marcella Winget, and Walter & Dana Kriesien, niece Tabitha McKeon(Thomas) and nephews Jeffrey Ward (Carol Guinta) & Joshua Ward.

With and between the sunrises, sunsets, snow, rain, moon & stars, flowers, foliage, hayfields, birds, dachshunds and bountiful mud, family and friends will all remember Molly for the eyes-wide-open, adventurous, creative and caring woman she was throughout her long and full life.