Carolyn Patricia Conway Palmer, 92, of New Orleans, affectionately known to her family as Memere, passed away on October 6, 2026, at 10:40 p.m., just weeks before her 93rd birthday. She was born on October 31, 1933, and raised in New Orleans, the daughter of Elma Amelia Valette and John Patrick Conway.
Carolyn attended grade school at Our Lady of Lourdes and graduated from St. Mary's Dominican High School in 1951. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, where she was a member of Phi Mu sorority and served as president of Kappa Delta Pi, the national honor society in education. A woman of Catholic faith, she remained a big fan of Dominican. She was a parishioner of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Lake Vista and St. Thomas by the Sea in Orange Beach, Alabama. She was also a member of Vista Shores Country Club.
On June 15, 1956, Carolyn married Jared Buhler Palmer at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in New Orleans. She was deeply loyal to him throughout their life together. Jared, whom the family called Pops, passed away on June 13, 2017.
Carolyn worked in bookkeeping and accounting at Twi-Ro-Pa Mills Agency, the cordage importing business owned by her husband. She enjoyed the fine arts, family activities, and life's simple pleasures. An only child, she found herself among the lively Palmer family of seven children, a boisterous change of pace that she met with her characteristic wit. She was never rowdy herself, but enjoyed watching the others and sharing a sharp, well-timed observation. She also appreciated an old-fashioned cocktail and had a fondness for desserts of every kind.
Carolyn was a devoted mother to Jared Jr., Carolyn Jr., John Conway Palmer, Jr., and Gregory Wehrmann Palmer. Her grandchildren are Nicole Valette Palmer, Jared B. Palmer III, Joshua Guste, Joy Guste, Ross Palmer, Vivian Palmer, Mary Palmer Glascoe, and John Palmer Jr. She also has one great-grandchild, David Story Glascoe.
Extended family included Virginia Gonzales, who devoted 25 years to Memere and Pops. Gloria and Danny were also considered part of the family, and they loved Memere deeply to the very end.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at 1:00 pm on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am prior to the service. Interment will be in Metairie Cemetery.
To view and sign the family online guestbook and share your memories of Carolyn, please visit lakelawnmetairie.com
