Candace Olive Dodds

Candace Olive Dodds, 50, died Sunday December 21, 2014 at 9:07 pm, after a 4 year battle with colon cancer. Her husband Donald F. Dodds of 25 years, 18 year old daughter Heidi Anne Dodds, and loyal dachshund Roxy at her side. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday January 10 at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home located at 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.

Candace Olive Dodds was born July 11, 1964 in Winsted, Connecticut to Richard and Carol “Goddard” Stadler. She was a 1982 graduate of Andrew Jackson High School and attended Florida Community College and Nova University. She excelled with high academic achievement and numerous awards majoring in culinary arts. Candy was very athletic and talented in many sports including Volleyball, Basketball, Golf, and especially gifted in Softball.

“Candy” married Donald Dodds on October 11, 1989 after (exactly) a 3 year romance and gave birth to her pride and joy Heidi, April 19, 1996. She worked at Prudential Insurance, Mayo Clinic as a certified Medical Transcriptionist, and last at Walgreen's Pharmacy.

She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church. She was a very caring, generous person always ready to help anyone who needed help. She had many friends and had a smile for everyone. Her greatest joys were being a wife to “Don” and a mother to Heidi. Candy loved traveling and enjoyed trips all over the country and especially to New York City. Any trip was extra fun with Candy because she loved life and even the simplest things became meaningful memories.

Candy is survived by her husband Donald Dodds and daughter Heidi Anne Dodds of Jacksonville Florida. Her father Richard (Lauretta) Stadler of Bristol Connecticut. Her mother Carol Sharkey of St. Augustine Florida. Her sisters Melissa (Brian) Tremaine, and Jennifer (Michael) Mauro of Newington Connecticut. Her mother-in-law Shirley Ann Dodds of Jacksonville Florida, brother-in-laws Randolph (Joan) Dodds of Jacksonville Florida and Roger Dodds of San Diego California. Sister-in-laws Carole Dodds and Joyce Dodds of Maquoketa Iowa. She is preceded in death by her father John Sharkey of St. Augustine Florida January 6, 2010, her father-in-law Francis “Cork” Dodds December 6 1998, brother-in-laws William “Bill” Dodds April 7, 2004, and Roderick “Rod” Dodds May 5, 2011.

Arrangements are under the care of Hardage-Giddens Beaches Chapel (904)249-2374 located 1701 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. A Memorial Service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, January 10, 2014 at 11:00am.

Due to severe flower allergies in the immediate family, memorial contributions are preferred in the name of Candy Dodds to the Beaches Animal Clinic, 937 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.