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May 3, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, May 5, 2013 from 2-6 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, May 6, 2013 at 9:30 from the funeral home, then to St. Anthony of Padua RC Church, 65 Bartholdi Ave., Butler where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Carolee J. Conklin, age 69 of Riverdale, died peacefully with her loving family by her bedside on Friday, May 3, 2013.
Born and raised in Totowa, Carolee was a graduate of Passaic Valley High School, class of 1961. Following high school and after a brief stint working for a lamp manufacturing company in Paterson, she landed a position as a secretary with a printing company in Hawthorne called Koppel Color, Inc.
Carolee worked at Koppel Color with a young man named George Conklin who became quite love- struck with her. George was so determined to date her that, twice a week, at the end of the day, when she came out to her car to go home, she would find a rose on her windshield with a poem or a note George had written. At the time Carolee must have liked getting the flowers more than the prospect of dating George. She didn’t accept the request for a date but she let the flowers keep coming. Never giving up, George decided it was time to ramp up his efforts. He went to his florist who at this point probably was in love with him for all the profits he was providing, and instructed that a dozen roses be delivered to Carolee at home every other day. George pre-wrote a bunch of cards to be attached to each bouquet. It took three more weeks but Carolee finally accepted George’s request for a date. They went to The 82 Club in Manhattan followed by cappuccinos on Mulberry Street. When asked how he paid for it all, George kiddingly replied, “Hey, I work in a print shop. Printing money is easy!” Carolee eventually did fall in love with George and they married on November 13, 1965 at St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church in Paterson. The wedding reception followed and took place right up the street at the Brownstone House. Carolee always wanted to visit Florida so they honeymooned there in Miami. Upon their return they spent their first night in their new home together, a new garden apartment in Paterson, watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas on their new giant color (which had just come out) console television, with friends and family, it was a crowded living room.
Carolee continued her secretarial work at Koppel Color until their children came along…first a boy named Russell in 1967, followed by a girl in 1970 which they named Heather, followed by Russell and Heather’s baby sister Dawn who was born in 1973. For the most part, Carolee stayed home to care for the children as they grew. During those years she briefly had a job at Dunkin Donuts but was fired when she and her friend got caught having a donut fight. She obviously didn’t take that job too seriously.
Once the kids were old enough, Carolee returned to full-time work, this time in the Passaic County Court House in Paterson. She quickly impressed those she worked for with her personality and lightning-quick typing skills. She had a great rapport with many of the judges and she enjoyed the friendships with her co-workers, many whom were women she had been friends with when she was growing up in Totowa. She retired in 2000 as a court clerk after nineteen years of service to her profession.
It is often said what a giving and selfless person Carolee was, but Carolee truly took selflessness to a new level! She had an incredible love for animals, especially dogs and especially homeless dogs! Throughout the years working in Paterson, she regularly made her home a shelter for the unfortunate pooches she found wandering the streets. There were always at least two dogs that she cared for at a time and many of them were expectant moms that needed a place to have their pups. Carolee would get her whole family involved in their care. The dogs would have the pups and the Conklin’s found homes for all of them. Over the years, the stand-out favorites were Chucky, Bear and Snowy but her genuine sense of hospitality was not restricted just to the four-legged type. Carolee’s house was an open house for anyone who wanted to come and enjoy her loving warmth and hospitality. Russell, Heather and Dawn’s friends, no matter how many, were always welcome. The rule was this, you could have as many friends come over as you wanted but you were responsible for them! That rule worked very well and over the years, many dogs and many people were the blessed recipients of Carolee and her family’s generosity.
Carolee’s mantra in life might have been described as QFT…”Quality Family Time,” and the family spent lots of time engaged in QFT! When her own children were growing up, she included them in her great love for the ocean and everyone vacationed regularly in North Wildwood. Later on, as the kids blessed Carolee and George with grandchildren, the whole family enjoyed that same ocean, only this time in S.Seaside Park. Carolee loved spending time on the beach, soaking in as much vitamin D as she could. At night, she’d hit the boardwalk, always with family or friends, and she especially loved that boardwalk cuisine of roast beef sandwiches and French fries with vinegar! Carolee’s two sisters too, were adored by her and they, along with their spouses and children spent lots of time together engaged in QFT!
Carolee was a woman of great faith in God. Most recently she was a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church of Butler. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, that season when, like so many of us, she celebrated that most wonderful gift of The Savior, Jesus’ birth. Her response to God’s gift for her was to follow His example by providing gifts to her beloved George, her children, and later, her grandchildren. It wasn’t one gift for each person, but rather a whole sack of gifts for each person! She worshipped her grandchildren and loved to see their eyes light up as they opened their Christmas gifts! Carolee felt, every hour with anyone of her grandchildren, was equal to a day of happiness and smiles; always creating fond memories to reflect to on the days she didn't see them;
Carolee’s legacy can be described in three words…Hope, Heaven and Home.
Hope because she always believed and never gave up.
Heaven because she loved God and believed in His promises and is now enjoying His presence.
Home because…well, of course, because of QFT and selfless love for all God’s creatures!
Surviving is her beloved husband George, to whom she was married for forty-seven years; her three loving children: Heather Rotolo of Kinnelon, Dawn Dibrino of Kinnelon, and Russell Bleeker and wife Lilla of Wayne; seven adored grandchildren: Kevin, Matthew, Ellie, Rachel, Carly, Michael, and Lauren; two loved sisters: June Blake and husband Roy of Hellertown, PA, and Diane Gley and husband Paul of Cape Coral, FL; and her mother-in-law Marie Conklin of Clifton.
She was predeceased by her parents, Michael and Elvira (nee Severini) Carafella.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Carolee’s name are asked to consider the Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society, P.O. Box 24, Bloomingdale, NJ 07403.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, May 5, 2013 from 2-6 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, May 6, 2013 at 9:30 from the funeral home, then to St. Anthony of Padua RC Church, 65 Bartholdi Ave., Butler where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
May 3, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, May 5, 2013 from 2-6 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, May 6, 2013 at 9:30 from the funeral home, then to St. Anthony of Padua RC Church, 65 Bartholdi Ave., Butler where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Carolee J. Conklin, age 69 of Riverdale, died peacefully with her loving family by her bedside on Friday, May 3, 2013.
Born and raised in Totowa, Carolee was a graduate of Passaic Valley High School, class of 1961. Following high school and after a brief stint working for a lamp manufacturing company in Paterson, she landed a position as a secretary with a printing company in Hawthorne called Koppel Color, Inc.
Carolee worked at Koppel Color with a young man named George Conklin who became quite love- struck with her. George was so determined to date her that, twice a week, at the end of the day, when she came out to her car to go home, she would find a rose on her windshield with a poem or a note George had written. At the time Carolee must have liked getting the flowers more than the prospect of dating George. She didn’t accept the request for a date but she let the flowers keep coming. Never giving up, George decided it was time to ramp up his efforts. He went to his florist who at this point probably was in love with him for all the profits he was providing, and instructed that a dozen roses be delivered to Carolee at home every other day. George pre-wrote a bunch of cards to be attached to each bouquet. It took three more weeks but Carolee finally accepted George’s request for a date. They went to The 82 Club in Manhattan followed by cappuccinos on Mulberry Street. When asked how he paid for it all, George kiddingly replied, “Hey, I work in a print shop. Printing money is easy!” Carolee eventually did fall in love with George and they married on November 13, 1965 at St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church in Paterson. The wedding reception followed and took place right up the street at the Brownstone House. Carolee always wanted to visit Florida so they honeymooned there in Miami. Upon their return they spent their first night in their new home together, a new garden apartment in Paterson, watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas on their new giant color (which had just come out) console television, with friends and family, it was a crowded living room.
Carolee continued her secretarial work at Koppel Color until their children came along…first a boy named Russell in 1967, followed by a girl in 1970 which they named Heather, followed by Russell and Heather’s baby sister Dawn who was born in 1973. For the most part, Carolee stayed home to care for the children as they grew. During those years she briefly had a job at Dunkin Donuts but was fired when she and her friend got caught having a donut fight. She obviously didn’t take that job too seriously.
Once the kids were old enough, Carolee returned to full-time work, this time in the Passaic County Court House in Paterson. She quickly impressed those she worked for with her personality and lightning-quick typing skills. She had a great rapport with many of the judges and she enjoyed the friendships with her co-workers, many whom were women she had been friends with when she was growing up in Totowa. She retired in 2000 as a court clerk after nineteen years of service to her profession.
It is often said what a giving and selfless person Carolee was, but Carolee truly took selflessness to a new level! She had an incredible love for animals, especially dogs and especially homeless dogs! Throughout the years working in Paterson, she regularly made her home a shelter for the unfortunate pooches she found wandering the streets. There were always at least two dogs that she cared for at a time and many of them were expectant moms that needed a place to have their pups. Carolee would get her whole family involved in their care. The dogs would have the pups and the Conklin’s found homes for all of them. Over the years, the stand-out favorites were Chucky, Bear and Snowy but her genuine sense of hospitality was not restricted just to the four-legged type. Carolee’s house was an open house for anyone who wanted to come and enjoy her loving warmth and hospitality. Russell, Heather and Dawn’s friends, no matter how many, were always welcome. The rule was this, you could have as many friends come over as you wanted but you were responsible for them! That rule worked very well and over the years, many dogs and many people were the blessed recipients of Carolee and her family’s generosity.
Carolee’s mantra in life might have been described as QFT…”Quality Family Time,” and the family spent lots of time engaged in QFT! When her own children were growing up, she included them in her great love for the ocean and everyone vacationed regularly in North Wildwood. Later on, as the kids blessed Carolee and George with grandchildren, the whole family enjoyed that same ocean, only this time in S.Seaside Park. Carolee loved spending time on the beach, soaking in as much vitamin D as she could. At night, she’d hit the boardwalk, always with family or friends, and she especially loved that boardwalk cuisine of roast beef sandwiches and French fries with vinegar! Carolee’s two sisters too, were adored by her and they, along with their spouses and children spent lots of time together engaged in QFT!
Carolee was a woman of great faith in God. Most recently she was a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church of Butler. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, that season when, like so many of us, she celebrated that most wonderful gift of The Savior, Jesus’ birth. Her response to God’s gift for her was to follow His example by providing gifts to her beloved George, her children, and later, her grandchildren. It wasn’t one gift for each person, but rather a whole sack of gifts for each person! She worshipped her grandchildren and loved to see their eyes light up as they opened their Christmas gifts! Carolee felt, every hour with anyone of her grandchildren, was equal to a day of happiness and smiles; always creating fond memories to reflect to on the days she didn't see them;
Carolee’s legacy can be described in three words…Hope, Heaven and Home.
Hope because she always believed and never gave up.
Heaven because she loved God and believed in His promises and is now enjoying His presence.
Home because…well, of course, because of QFT and selfless love for all God’s creatures!
Surviving is her beloved husband George, to whom she was married for forty-seven years; her three loving children: Heather Rotolo of Kinnelon, Dawn Dibrino of Kinnelon, and Russell Bleeker and wife Lilla of Wayne; seven adored grandchildren: Kevin, Matthew, Ellie, Rachel, Carly, Michael, and Lauren; two loved sisters: June Blake and husband Roy of Hellertown, PA, and Diane Gley and husband Paul of Cape Coral, FL; and her mother-in-law Marie Conklin of Clifton.
She was predeceased by her parents, Michael and Elvira (nee Severini) Carafella.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Carolee’s name are asked to consider the Bloomingdale Regional Animal Shelter Society, P.O. Box 24, Bloomingdale, NJ 07403.
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