Karmo Sanders, Maine’s ‘Marden’s Lady’, Dead at 74

Maine has lost one of its most recognizable faces and one of its brightest spirits.

According to WGME 13, Karmo Sanders, the beloved playwright, performer, teacher, and accidental TV icon known to so many of us as “The Marden’s Lady,” passed away peacefully at her home in Scarborough over the weekend. She was 74.

For years, Sanders brought smiles (and a few laughs) into living rooms across Maine through her quirky, upbeat commercials for Marden’s, the legendary Maine salvage store. Her catchphrase-filled ads and lovable personality made her a true local celebrity. Even after the campaign ended back in 2013, her character lived on in the hearts of Mainers, and even in her stand-up comedy.

In a 2013 interview with WGME 13, she summed up her outlook on life in a way that perfectly captured her spirit: “We have the opportunity in this lifetime to be happy or sad… it’s pretty simple. I chose happy.”

Beyond the TV fame, Sanders was a talented writer and educator. She penned both a musical and a play, and most recently shared her creative energy teaching playwriting and acting at the University of Southern Maine.

Her joyful presence and Maine charm will be deeply missed — but her laughter and positivity will live on for years to come.