Candy C. DeFries

Candy Gunderson DeFries crossed over her rainbow bridge on November 25, 2023. Candy had many wonderful attributes that made up her overall being; Candy was a good witch, her soul was a good one. She’s at ease now, resting in

comfort with all her kitties, a few birds and a skunk.

Westfield, NY is where her life began. Born to Thomas Edison Reddy and Leona Mae Cook on June 13, 1953, she was a surprise to her parents; having what they thought was their last child in 1939. Her oldest brother Tom Reddy, sisters

Barbara Irvin and Diane Gibson let it be known that they weren’t thrilled with her being the youngest, most spoiled child.

She was Pagan, believing in mother earth, karma, the sun, the stars and the moon. She taught her children to put the things out into the world that they would want to receive back. “If you can’t afford it, then you don’t need it”, she would say. She was the best mom she could be to her 5 children, Steven Troy Gunderson, Michael Aaron Gunderson, Cassandra Mae Witmer, Patrick Ian Gunderson and Eric Wincentsen. There were hardships when her first marriage to

Steven Vernell Gunderson ended but she always provided for her kids. Even leading them in boys & girls scouts! Yes, she would lock up the Cheez-its, but who could blame her with all those hungry mouths to feed!? Whether it was going to Jubilee with the SCA, dressed as vikings and performing as Lady Malka Gunderson, or making hot dog pizza with her granddaughters, Halie Ann Gunderson and Daphne Ann Gunderson, she always made sure everyone around her had a smile. Her grandson Alexander David Witmer enjoyed many handmade crafts, sent with love. And, if given the chance, Bastion, Graham and Legend all would have enjoyed a gramma squish. Nathan Troy Shinn sure got plenty! But, through the eyes in the back of her head, she’ll make sure her kids, grandkids and great grandkids are all behaving.

Her outgoing personality pushed her into wanting more from life. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Iowa Wesleyan College. This personal success allowed her to work as lab tech at the local beef packing plant. Her merry ways continued on as she placed several post it notes throughout the lab, labeling items “lab coat of death” “stapler of death” “test tube of death” and so on. She met her favorite husband, Gary Lee DeFries, during this time. Having the same wits and sense of humor, it wasn’t long before they fell in love. Sticking with her beliefs, they had a Pagan/Wiccan wedding in 1995.

Being a prankster was by far her most enduring quality. She brought many laughs to her friends and family and her shenanigans were always fueled with love. Her legacy will go on when the plastic skeleton hiding in the walls of her home is discovered by future tenants. Her friends will think fondly of the times they spent dressing up, trick-or-treating with kids while in their 40's.

           Someone will chuckle when they read her short story of a funeral for a dying door with its final resting place in the ravine behind her home. She not only contributed to entertaining her many friends, she also wrote for the local paper’s opinion column as well as a weekly for the Lafayette Journal & Courier “My Life, My Story”.

We will all remember Candy barefoot, with bells on, smoking her cigarettes, drinking her diet Pepsi and beers. When asked the question, “how did you do that?” she’ll cross her legs, straighten her posture and say “I twitched me

little nose”, she’ll giggle, tilt her chin toward her chest, smile, shake her hair and purr. We’ll think of her browsing through the thrift stores on the hunt for something special for someone else. We’ll cherish the crafts sent by mail, dusted with cat hair and the faint smell of cigarettes. When we see a hummingbird, we’ll think of how connected to the earth she was by having a landing zone on her finger. She’ll sleep peacefully dreaming of a shotgun wedding with Jack Nicholson to the soundtrack of The Moody Blues. It will no longer be a struggle to breathe and she will tiptoe through the tulips with

ease.

Her final wishes were to go out of the world the same way she came in, naked.

We won’t dust her collection of things that brought her happiness as several of her friends have returned to dust and they need to stay right where they are. We won’t cry because she is no longer with us, we will be at peace knowing she’s dancing with the fairies in the forest.

Candy is preceded in death by many fur babies, her sister Barbara Irvin, son Michael Aaron and great grandson Legend Gunderson.

There will be a celebration of life and scattering of ashes in her memory held at a later date.

Blessed Be, Candy G.