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April 2, 2018
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, April 6, 2018 from 4-8 PM.
Evelyn Carlson, age 92, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 2, 2018.
The youngest of Christian and Margaret (nee Daley) Heldt’s seven children, Evelyn was born at home in Clifton. She spent her childhood living there and graduated from Clifton High School with the Class of 1942. As a young lady, she joined a roller skating club because of her love, not only the activity, but also the fashion and social comradery that went along with it. After high school, Evelyn went to work as a switch board operator for the telephone company. In the 70’s she worked at Stern’s for several years and in 1981 moved on to Anchor Bank, where she made many friends in the Human Resources department until she retired in 1988.
Evelyn had two girlfriends – twins, who happened to have a very handsome brother named Fred Carlson. By virtue of her friendship with Fred’s sisters, Evelyn had the privilege of meeting Fred. They didn’t initially date but, when Fred returned from the Army, he became reacquainted with her and they ultimately married in May of 1952. They had already purchased their house in the Pines Lake section of Wayne and were able to move in right after the wedding. The newly married Mr. and Mrs. Fred and Evelyn Carlson went on to become the parents of three much-loved children and enjoyed a wonderful 57 year marriage together until Fred’s passing in 2009.
They say that being a homemaker is equivalent to holding down two-and-a-half fulltime jobs. Well, if that’s true, then Evelyn was a very hard worker. But her hard work was always done with thankfulness in her heart for the blessings of a beautiful family. She lovingly raised her three children and kept the “ship afloat” making their house in Pines Lake a place of peace, warmth, and stability.
Evelyn’s children have many fond memories of growing up in the Carlson homestead. Summers were always highlights because summertime meant family camping trips up and down the east coast from Maine to Florida. They always had one requirement for the campsites where they stayed – dogs had to be permitted so that Schotsie, the family collie could come along too. Always frugal and trying to keep activities within or below budget, Evelyn cooked all the family meals on those camping trips except for one night per trip where everyone would dress up a bit for the special occasion of splurging by going out for dinner, and to give Evelyn a little break. When the kids moved into their teen years, Fred and Evelyn rented a Winnebago motor home. The family headed out west, making it all the way to the Rockies before they ran out of time and had to head back home. Every October ushered in another Halloween holiday and the kids always excitedly were ready to trick or treat with their beautiful costumes custom hand-sewn by Evelyn herself. She’d take the kids to the store, let them pick out who or what they wanted to be that year, purchased the pattern and had the costumes ready for the big day. Of course, sewing wasn’t just limited to costumes. Evelyn made beautiful year round hand-sewn clothing for the kids too. In 1968, Evelyn and Fred purchased a three-bedroom, one-bath summer home down the shore at LBI. Sometimes there would be up to ten people, including grandchildren, gathered at the house, enjoying Evelyn’s famous breakfast casserole in the morning and playing games or making a puzzle in the afternoon or evening. Evelyn loved nothing more than having her family all together and so this was an experience that made her extremely thankful that she and Fred were able to provide for their family. There were also some trips to Europe and one to Hawaii but, at the end of the day, it was home where Evelyn felt most comfortable and happy, and it wasn’t unusual for her to say to her kids, “Don’t ever move too far away.”
Outside of her husband, children, and grandchildren, Evelyn’s greatest passion in life was being a member of the Ramapo Valley Chapter of the Sweet Adelines International Barbershop Chorus. A charter member, she started singing with the group in 1960 and it seemed that for the next 37 years, she never missed a Tuesday night rehearsal. Evelyn sang the bass part with the group as well as in a quartet which was comprised of three other members of the group. As a Sweet Adeline, Evelyn competed on an international basis with the group performing at Prince Albert Hall in London, England and the U.S.A., including in Hawaii. Never happy with anything other than coming in first place, her group also performed at Carnegie Hall and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Evelyn leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness and happy memories for her family and for all who were blessed to know this gentle soul.
Evelyn was predeceased by her beloved husband Fred in 2009. She was the loving mom of three children: Christine Bertha and her husband Richard of West Milford, Scott Carlson of Hamden, NY, and Carin Wantula and her husband Richard of Wayne; dear grandmother of: Eric Bertha, and Hannah and Christian Wantula; and dear sister of four sisters and two brothers – all predeceased.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org).
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 Friday, April 6, 2018 from 4-8 PM.
April 2, 2018
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, April 6, 2018 from 4-8 PM.
Evelyn Carlson, age 92, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 2, 2018.
The youngest of Christian and Margaret (nee Daley) Heldt’s seven children, Evelyn was born at home in Clifton. She spent her childhood living there and graduated from Clifton High School with the Class of 1942. As a young lady, she joined a roller skating club because of her love, not only the activity, but also the fashion and social comradery that went along with it. After high school, Evelyn went to work as a switch board operator for the telephone company. In the 70’s she worked at Stern’s for several years and in 1981 moved on to Anchor Bank, where she made many friends in the Human Resources department until she retired in 1988.
Evelyn had two girlfriends – twins, who happened to have a very handsome brother named Fred Carlson. By virtue of her friendship with Fred’s sisters, Evelyn had the privilege of meeting Fred. They didn’t initially date but, when Fred returned from the Army, he became reacquainted with her and they ultimately married in May of 1952. They had already purchased their house in the Pines Lake section of Wayne and were able to move in right after the wedding. The newly married Mr. and Mrs. Fred and Evelyn Carlson went on to become the parents of three much-loved children and enjoyed a wonderful 57 year marriage together until Fred’s passing in 2009.
They say that being a homemaker is equivalent to holding down two-and-a-half fulltime jobs. Well, if that’s true, then Evelyn was a very hard worker. But her hard work was always done with thankfulness in her heart for the blessings of a beautiful family. She lovingly raised her three children and kept the “ship afloat” making their house in Pines Lake a place of peace, warmth, and stability.
Evelyn’s children have many fond memories of growing up in the Carlson homestead. Summers were always highlights because summertime meant family camping trips up and down the east coast from Maine to Florida. They always had one requirement for the campsites where they stayed – dogs had to be permitted so that Schotsie, the family collie could come along too. Always frugal and trying to keep activities within or below budget, Evelyn cooked all the family meals on those camping trips except for one night per trip where everyone would dress up a bit for the special occasion of splurging by going out for dinner, and to give Evelyn a little break. When the kids moved into their teen years, Fred and Evelyn rented a Winnebago motor home. The family headed out west, making it all the way to the Rockies before they ran out of time and had to head back home. Every October ushered in another Halloween holiday and the kids always excitedly were ready to trick or treat with their beautiful costumes custom hand-sewn by Evelyn herself. She’d take the kids to the store, let them pick out who or what they wanted to be that year, purchased the pattern and had the costumes ready for the big day. Of course, sewing wasn’t just limited to costumes. Evelyn made beautiful year round hand-sewn clothing for the kids too. In 1968, Evelyn and Fred purchased a three-bedroom, one-bath summer home down the shore at LBI. Sometimes there would be up to ten people, including grandchildren, gathered at the house, enjoying Evelyn’s famous breakfast casserole in the morning and playing games or making a puzzle in the afternoon or evening. Evelyn loved nothing more than having her family all together and so this was an experience that made her extremely thankful that she and Fred were able to provide for their family. There were also some trips to Europe and one to Hawaii but, at the end of the day, it was home where Evelyn felt most comfortable and happy, and it wasn’t unusual for her to say to her kids, “Don’t ever move too far away.”
Outside of her husband, children, and grandchildren, Evelyn’s greatest passion in life was being a member of the Ramapo Valley Chapter of the Sweet Adelines International Barbershop Chorus. A charter member, she started singing with the group in 1960 and it seemed that for the next 37 years, she never missed a Tuesday night rehearsal. Evelyn sang the bass part with the group as well as in a quartet which was comprised of three other members of the group. As a Sweet Adeline, Evelyn competed on an international basis with the group performing at Prince Albert Hall in London, England and the U.S.A., including in Hawaii. Never happy with anything other than coming in first place, her group also performed at Carnegie Hall and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Evelyn leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness and happy memories for her family and for all who were blessed to know this gentle soul.
Evelyn was predeceased by her beloved husband Fred in 2009. She was the loving mom of three children: Christine Bertha and her husband Richard of West Milford, Scott Carlson of Hamden, NY, and Carin Wantula and her husband Richard of Wayne; dear grandmother of: Eric Bertha, and Hannah and Christian Wantula; and dear sister of four sisters and two brothers – all predeceased.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org).
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