Carole H. Hook

Carole Helena Hook (nee Walther), age 78, of Toms River and formerly of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 26, 2022 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Carole was born and raised in East Rutherford, NJ and was one of four children to John and Edna Walther.  While attending East Rutherford High School, Carole was a Majorette and graduated with the class of 1961.  Following her graduation from high school, Carole found work quickly as a Bookkeeper and Secretary locally at ADP.  After working with ADP for a short time she accepted another position as a Salesperson with Venus Creations Jewelry located in Little Falls.  Carole then reverted back to her skills as a Bookkeeper/Secretary and accepted an offer to work for Van Peenen Landscaping and Construction located in the Town of Wayne.  Carole worked for Van Peenen Landscaping and Construction for more than ten years when she changed careers again to work for North Jersey Media Group in West Paterson.  There she was employed in the newspaper industry as a Sales Representative.  After working with North Jersey Media Group for more than ten years she eventually retired.

In 1964, Carole married John Hook and together they had four children.  After getting married they first settled in East Rutherford then in 1974, as their family grew, they moved to the town of Wayne.  Carole remained in Wayne until 1995 when she started to move around a bit.  She lived for a time in Lincoln Park, Riverdale, and North Carolina, until moving to Toms River approximately eight years ago.

Carole was a person who was extremely neat and wonderfully organized.  In her home, there was always a place for everything and everything in its place.  She took great pride in her home and cherished decorating for the holidays.  Christmas time was always “over the top” in décor and often seemed as if the house had been completely renovated.  Easter was not much different.  Carole treasured having guests over and hosting the holidays. She was a wonderful cook and was famous for her Christmas Cookies.  Her family recalls rows of the old Charles Chips tin containers filled with her Christmas cookies.  She would start her Christmas cookie baking on Thanksgiving and wouldn’t stop until the end of the holiday season.

Carole cherished spending time and having lunch with her friends and neighbors where she lived.  She also had a profound love for music, her favorite artists being Engelbert Humperdinck, Neil Diamond, and Johnny Mathis.  But Carole’s greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Carole than providing for and spending time with her children and grandchildren.    

Carole was a joyful and fun-loving person who liked to joke around with everyone she met.  She had an infectious personality that brought a smile to the faces of everyone around her.  Carole was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Carole is survived by her four children; her two sons John “Jeff” Hook of Lakewood Ranch, FL, and Darren Hook, Sr. and his wife Luz Helena of Toms River, NJ, her two daughters Shawna Huntting and her husband William of Stratford, CT, and Dina Hook of Wanaque, NJ,  two sisters; Joyce Levins of Illinois, and Lynn Rzepka of Walworth, NY, nine grandchildren; Kayla Hook of Morris Plains, NJ, Joseph Hook of New Hampshire, Courtney Hook of Toms River, NJ, John Hook of Toms River, NJ, Angelica Hook of Toms River, NJ, Darren Hook, Jr. of Toms River, NJ, Greyson Hook of Wanaque, NJ, William Huntting of Stratford, CT, and Addison Huntting of Stratford, CT.  Carole was predeceased by her sister Patricia Walther an her parents John and Edna Walther.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Carole's name may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 – 9959 http://www.stjude.org