Obituary of Carolyn M. Carlson

Carolyn Josephine Maggio Carlson, 91, of Jamestown, died Easter Sunday March 27, 2016, in WCA Hospital. She was born July 5, 1924, in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of the late Anthony Earl and Genevieve Walker Maggio. She graduated from Jamestown High School in 1941, and attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, MN. Prior to marriage, she was employed in the business office at Holmlund's Wallpaper Paint & Glass and Bigelow's Department Store. On November 3, 1946, she married the love of her life, Robert Brewer (Bror) Carlson, who died after a long illness on March 11, 1967. Together they founded and operated the Robert B. Carlson Insurance Agency for eighteen years, during which time she earned an insurance brokerage license. Carolyn was a devoted supporter of her husband's many civic and political activities in the Jaycees, the Young Republican Club, and the Chautauqua County Republican Committee. Mr. Carlson was also campaign manager and field aide to the late Charles E. Goodell, while serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 43rd district. After her husband's death, Carolyn dedicated herself to continuing in her husband's civic and political footsteps. She served as president of the Jamestown Women's Republican Club, 1st vice president and program chair of the Chautauqua County Woman's Republican Club, and secretary to the Advisory Committee of the Jamestown Meals on Wheels Program and co-chair of its Volunteer and Visitation Committee. As an active member of the Jayncees, she was elected president of the state-wide organization. Later, she was employed for fifteen years as an admitting clerk at the Jamestown General Hospital until it closed in 1988. Mrs. Carlson was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where she had served on the church council as the Social Ministry Chair and as a Sunday school teacher. She also volunteered at the Joint Neighborhood Project supported by Immanuel and First Lutheran Churches. In recent years, she returned to First Lutheran Church where she and her family had been members in early years. Surviving are two daughters Katherine C. (James) Santiago of Fayetteville, NY and Pamela J. Carlson of Washington, DC; a sister-in-law Betty F. Carlson of Jamestown; nieces and nephews Steven (Bonnie) Maggio of Jamestown, Timothy (Tralee) Maggio of Cassadaga, Becky Ridder of Indianapolis, IN, Brenda Maggio of Morristown, NJ and Beth (Steve) Alexander of Ross, OH; great nieces and nephews Christopher (Mary) Maggio, Jeremy (Heidi) Maggio, and Brandon (Natalie) Maggio all of Jamestown, Chad Maggio of Vancouver, WA, Fenton Maggio of Cassadaga, Melissa Ridder and Matthew Ridder both of Indianapolis, Casey (Ben) Traylor of Bluffton, SC and Jocelynn Alexander of Ross, OH. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her two brothers Albert A. Maggio of Jamestown and A. Earl Maggio, Jr. of Indianapolis, IN, and two nephews Brian Earl Maggio and Brett Earl Maggio. The funeral will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday in First Lutheran Church. Rev. Daniel K. Nagle will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 6-8 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service in the First Lutheran Church Fellowship Room. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church. You may leave words of condolence at www.lindfuneralhome.com.