Carmen Lillian Shouldis

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Carmen Shouldis, 66, of Willowbrook, a retired X-ray technician and dedicated homemaker who will be remembered as full of life and good energy, died Thursday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.

Born Carmen Morales in Moca, Puerto Rico, she moved with family to Manhattan as a girl and graduated from Cathedral High School.

She also lived in California briefly before settling in Willowbrook 30 years ago.

Mrs. Shouldis earned an associate's degree in radiologic technology from Bronx Community College.

She worked as a radiology technician at Mount Sinai Hospital, Manhattan, among other facilities.

Mrs. Shouldis was very active in St. Teresa's Mothers' Guild, school activities and as a soccer mom when her daughters were students.

She was a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of Lalas.

Mrs. Shouldis most loved being with her family, and her grandchildren were her pride and joy, family said.

She also was a talented cook who loved to feed people, and enjoyed entertaining and dancing.

"She was caring and nurturing, and so full of life and good energy," said her daughter, Kerry Meems. "If you met her, you liked her. She was so generous and thoughtful. If she went away, she would bring back presents, not just for her children or grandchildren, but for all the kids in the neighborhood."

Mrs. Shouldis was a parishioner of St. Teresa's R.C. Church, Castleton Corners.

Surviving, along with her daughter, Kerry, are her husband of 37 years, Thomas; her daughter, Heather Weir; three brothers, Alex, Jaime and Paul Morales, and four grandchildren.

The funeral will be Tuesday from the Casey McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills, with a Mass at 10:45 a.m. in St. Teresa's Church. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.