Ruth Ellen Carlsen

She was born April 9, 1937, the first child in a prosperous multi-generational family on Staten Island. Her maternal grandfather (William Chapman) was Superintendent of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and her father (Dr. Carl Larson) worked for Ms. Elizabeth Arden, bringing her products to market. However, it was her mother (Ruth) and maternal Irish Catholic grandmother(Agnes Goodwin Chapman) who launched her faith journey that touched every aspect of her life.

Her early school years were at the local parochial school, less one year where she stayed home due to asthma- a lifelong nemesis. Instead, she was home-schooled by her aunt, then skipped one grade when tested upon her return. Her Dad insisted she attend public high school to expand her worldview. Her initial grades were disappointing. When her Dad inquired, he was told tests were great, but she was not participating in class discussions. This is the last documented instance of Ruth Carlsen not speaking up. She was a true extrovert and would engage anyone near her, leading to a life of many friendships. After graduating from Tottenville High School, she attended one year at Marymount College before leaving to marry the love of her life, Roy Carlsen, a Brooklyn Tech graduate who she met at Great Kills Harbor, where her father kept his boat. Married January 1956, their first child, Jon, arrived Dec 1956, to be followed by Eric, Kurt and Sonja over the next 6 years.

In 1966, the family moved from Staten Island to a new housing development in Congers, NY where she would live for the next 50+ years, raising her family and building a career in real estate appraising while continuing her faith journey and collecting ever more friends. Ruth was a devoted Roman Catholic and St. Paul’s in Congers was her church. After her children left home, she spent decades as a CCD (Sunday school) teacher, was a member of bible study and prayer group, the Red Hat Ladies and also served as a Eucharistic minister, delivering communion to those too frail to attend Mass. Among her family and friends, if divine intervention was needed for any reason, the first move was to ask her to include you in her prayers. This was referred to as the “Carlsen whammy” or “the nuclear option”. and was not to be abused. Maybe it was just knowing someone loved and supported you and your goals, but the effectiveness of being on her prayer list was compelling. In her later years,her “Thought for the Day /Daily Word” daily email shared with family and friends was ever expanding and kept everyone abreast of what was going on among us –birthdays,graduations,job changes etc. She was, quite simply, the family matriarch and kept everyone connected. Though email was adopted as a useful tool, she was always “old-school” when communicating about important events or simply saying “thanks” to friends and family – she would send you a card she hand painted in watercolor with a handwritten note. She sent out literally hundreds of these expressions of love over the decades, which are saved and cherished.

Ruth's educational journey was a testament to her determination. While working a full-time job in the late 70’s, she returned to night school, earning an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science from Rockland Community College in 1977. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Dominican College in 1980. Ruth began her career at Coyle & Coyle Insurance in Congers, NY, then obtained her Real Estate Sales license and worked for Martin & Martin of West Nyack, NY. Ruth later trained as a Real Estate Appraiser and ultimately worked for the Assessor’s Office of Orangetown, NY., retiring at 70 years of age after 20 years of service. One interesting attribute of Ruth’s was her stunningly good memory, which came in handy working as an appraiser over the years. Oddly, it was all organized around the weather – ask her about any event and she would always start off telling you what the weather was that day, then the rest of the facts would follow. In addition to her deep faith, Ruth had a love for the arts in all its forms. Her favorite painters included Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Renoir, Claude Monet, and Mary Cassatt. Ruth's eyes would light up when she visited galleries and museums, immersing herself in the beauty of artistic expression. Ruth was an early and devote member of the Rockland Center for the Arts(ROCA) in West Nyack since 1970 and loved her time with her fellow artisans there. After retiring, she began inviting friends to her home for informal gatherings to paint together on Thursday afternoons. It didn’t take long for it to become a weekly event attended by many. Referred to as the “Congers art salon” it was a popular gathering of art, food and friends.Ruth cherished her relationships with people of all ages, nationalities, and walks of life, making friends easily as she moved through the world. She opened her home to friends in need and developed deep long-lasting friendships. Her loved ones experienced her boundless generosity, as she showered them with her heart and soul.

Ruth loved to travel and saw much of the world during her retirement. She took many ship cruises and visited holy sites in many countries. She loved to visit Las Vegas; never to gamble but to visit her son and grandchildren and see the sights of the desert southwest. In 2019 she moved from her home in Congers to start a new chapter living at “The Oaks” in Denville, NJ where she made many new and dear friendships. She became a “sponsor” for welcome new arrivals and kept up with art classes.Yes, her sudden death was a shock to all.

Ruth is survived by her brother, William Larson, and her four children: Jon Carlsen, Eric Carlsen,Kurt Carlsen, and Sonja Maddox. She was also the loving grandmother of ten: Christine Stark,Craig Carlsen, Ryan Carlsen, Rachel Carlsen, Olivia Maddox Mangino, Roy Carlsen, Ben Carlsen,Thomas Maddox, Grace Carlsen, and Mark Maddox. Ruth's great-grandchildren, Autumn and Ivy Stark, were a source of immense joy in her life. She truly enjoyed keeping in touch with her growing family: nieces, nephews and their subsequent children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Carlsen, in 1994.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Wake on Friday, June 30, 2023, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Service, Inc., located at 321 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956.A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday,July 1, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Saint Paul's Catholic Church,82 Lake Road, Congers, NY 10920. A live stream should be available at www.SPaSAParisg.org for those who can’t attend.Burial will immediately follow at Frederick Loescher Veterans Cemetery, 220 Brick Church Road,New Hempstead, NY 10977.

There will also be a memorial service held in Denville NJ at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (15 Myers Ave, Denville, NJ 07834). Date and time still to be determined. A gathering will be held afterward the burial at La Terrazza, 291 S. Main Street, New City, NY 10956.Ruth never wore black, loving color and light. If you plan to attend her service wearing something other than black, she would approve.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Rockland Center for the Arts, 27 South Greenbush Road, West Nyack,NY 10994.

Ruth Ellen Carlsen will be deeply missed, but forever remembered for her unwavering faith,boundless generosity,and love for the arts.May the memory of Ruth continue to inspire all those who were fortunate enough to have known her.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MJHigginsNewCity.com for the Carlsen family.