Carolyn Maurer

Obituary of Carolyn J. Maurer

Carolyn J. Maurer, 92, of New Milford, NJ, formerly of Palisades Park, passed away on Monday July 22, 2024, at home with her family by her side. Carolyn was born on Christmas Day, 1931, to the late John and Margaret Campbell (Smith) and raised in Jersey City. She was the youngest and last surviving of their eight children. Carolyn worked as a secretary for the US Air Force during the Korean War. She soon met her beloved husband, Joseph, and began a family that grew to six children. Carolyn was a dedicated wife and mother, always putting her family first. She volunteered at St. Michael’s School throughout her children’s years in attendance, specializing in Bingo Nights and Card Party fundraisers, among other activities. Carolyn loved to be with people and was at her best in a crowd. She was an avid bowler, being in many bowling leagues over the years, and was proud of the time she bowled a perfect 300 game.

As her children got older, she began working as a Customer Service Representative for Paul Rowan & Associates, a distributor of Russell Athletic sports apparel. Work was also a social outlet for her as she enjoyed interacting with both the customers and her co-workers.

Carol, as most knew her by, was proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She felt that they were her greatest accomplishment in life. She loved to spend time with her family and once the children started leaving the nest, she initiated weekly “Wednesday Night Dinners“ so the family could all remain connected and meet at home together. The family has wonderful memories of visiting their parents at their Lake Naomi house in the Poconos for a fun time at the pool or lake or just visiting the touristy places in the Poconos. Everyone loved to visit their Fort Myers place when they wintered there for several years as well. Holiday gatherings at home were the best, as Carol loved Christmas. Being born on Christmas, she loved to tell the story that her mother told her as a child, that she had found her in a basket on the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.  In the later years, the family gathered at her daughter Kerri’s house to visit Carol and Joe and all were welcomed, always.

Carol loved to do arts and crafts whenever possible. She was very proud of her Irish heritage and was happy to visit Ireland in her retirement. She loved to collect things and had a small collection of lifelike baby dolls which she loved to share with her grandchildren and which gave her great comfort as she began suffering from dementia.

Carol was warm, cheerful, a devout Catholic and had a smile and personality that brightened a room. She was very much loved, and she will be dearly missed by all. Carol was predeceased by Joe, her husband of 67 years, her son Mark and her siblings George, Jack, Walter, Eugene, James, Margaret and Helen. She is survived by her children Maureen Sant Anna and her husband Michael, Joseph Maurer Jr. and his wife Kathleen, Brian Maurer and his wife Kimberly, Keith Maurer and his wife Jennifer, and Kerri-Lynn Maurer.  Carol was the proud Nana of 12 grandchildren, Leanne(Chris), Lauren(Tom), Jamie(Chris), Joseph(Sara), Jennifer(Ryan), Erin, Gabrielle(Rick), Gina, Caitlyn, Declan, Kyle, and Colton. Carol was also a great-grandma to Emma, Grayson, Sadie, Hallie, Nora, Adelyn, Hannah, Daniel, John, Daniella, Dominick, and Lilah as well as aunt to many nieces and nephews.

The family is also grateful to her faithful aide, Jackie, who not only cared for Carol, but also their father Joe and brought great joy and comfort to them in their final years.

A funeral mass in her honor will be held at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph RC Church in Oradell, NJ on Saturday, August 3, 2024. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.