FEBRUARY 7, 2022 • PASCACK VALLEY PRESS
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Grace J. CARLSON
Grace J. Carlson (née Thomsen), 91, entered into Eternal Life on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. She was the beloved wife of the late Carl G. Carlson, who passed away 24 years ago, and the cherished mother of Nancy I. Newman, Susan J. Martens (Paul) and Richard L. Carlson. She also leaves behind a sister, Joan A. Bates, and seven grandchildren: Adam Scholl, Erin Scholl, Steven (Kristie) Scholl, Patrick Scholl, Brianne Carlson, Michael Carlson and Francesca Bottini. She was the great-grandmother to: Paige Mazar, Jaden Mazar, Makenzie Scholl, Jeremy Scholl, Dominick Neal, Jaxon Scholl and Luka DePompe. She had dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives who knew and loved her dearly. Her former son-in-law, Gerald S. Scholl, still considered her a second mother. She is preceded in death by her parents, Irving A. and Mildred M. (Applegate) Thomsen, her sister Dorothy M. Thomsen and brother, Arthur R. Thomsen. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all adored her. It would have been difficult to find anyone who disliked Grace Carlson. Born in Westwood in a fourgeneration family home, Grace lived in her hometown for the majority of her life. Raised on Center Avenue in Westwood with three siblings—Dolly, the oldest, and younger siblings Joanie and Butchie—she later became a commuter, by train, to New York City where she worked at Chemical Bank as a secretary in lower Manhattan, on the site of what was later the World Trade Center. She married Carl G. Carlson of Brooklyn on Nov. 5, 1955, after
OBITUARIES
meeting him through a series of letters. Carl had been hospitalized with tuberculosis in a V.A. Hospital, and friends put his name in the paper to receive mail. The rest is history. Carl and Grace settled in Westwood, and Grace stayed home with their three children, Nancy, Susie, and Richie, doing what she seemed born to do—be a mommy. Carl worked hard as a machinist at Bendix in Teterboro, and his stable income supported the family. The children always had food on the table, a Mom in the home, and friends on the block. Grace attended the Westwood Reformed Church, a Protestant Christian denomination, and raised the children there. At church, they were surrounded by their Nana and extended family. Grace continued to attend that very same church until the day she died, now known as Parkside Community Church. A widow of 24 years, in her old age she sold her home and moved in with her daughter, Nancy, where she resided in Northvale until her passing. Daughter, Susan, and son, Richard, raised families in the Poconos in Pennsylvania. Grace will be remembered by her friends and family as a loving, caring, kind person, who was dependable and generous. Her family meant everything to her, and she to them. She will be sorely missed until reunions in Heaven. Internment took place at Westwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Lung Association.
Alfred F. ALTANO
Alfred Francis Altano Jr., 71, of Montvale, peacefully passed away Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. Beloved husband of Lynn (née Weber) for 47 years. Devot-
ed father of Alfred F. Altano III and wife Lydee, Daniel L. Altano and wife Alison, and Stephen M. Altano and wife Jade. Dear brother of Danny Altano and wife Sydney. Predeceased by his sisters, Rosemary Altano and Jean Weiland. Cherished grandfather of Evelyn, Luke and Brendan Altano. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Before retiring Al worked for Local 472, Road and Bridge Construction/Heavy General Laborers, Newark, for 33 years. In his retirement he owned and operated Altano and Sons Painting and Power Washing. He was famously known as “Mr. Buns” while he operated the hotdog cart at his childrenʼs sports events. He loved his German shepherds, faithfully taking Libby to the dog park daily. He loved his Christmas village and spent many hours arranging it. What Al enjoyed most was the time he spent with his family, grandchildren and cherished friends. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the American Cancer Society or Living Breath Foundation.
Helen R. CALDER
Helen Ruth Calder, 92, of Montvale, passed away on Jan. 20, 2022 with her devoted daughter at her side. Born Jan. 9, 1930 in Mount Kisco, N.Y., to Adolph C. Ohrle and Hazel L. (Ryer) Ohrle, Helen was the youngest of three daughters raised in Hawthorne, N.Y. She fondly described her childhood as idyllic, despite the excruciating loss of her father at a mere 8 years old, which strengthened the bond she shared with her mother, sisters and grandparents. In 1947 she graduated from
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Pleasantville High School, where she played field hockey, basketball and softball, served as student body president and yearbook sales manager, and was voted Most Innocent. Helen went on to earn her business degree in 1951 from St. Lawrence University, where she played field hockey, sang in the university choir, wrote copy for the college radio station, served as editor of the yearbook, school paper and sorority magazine, and served as chapter officer and member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. She married her college sweetheart, Don Calder, in 1954 after his discharge from the U.S. Army, and worked for the phone company until 1958 before starting their family. They bought their home on the hill in Montvale, with the big bay window facing the sunsets, in 1959. She resided there until her passing. Helen shared a particularly strong relationship with her mother. Together, every Friday, they could be seen shopping for bargains at Alexanderʼs Department Store or perhaps enjoying a cup of black coffee and hamburger on toast at the local Friendlyʼs before returning to Helenʼs house on the hill to greet the kids coming home from school. Helen was an amazing, hardworking, nurturing stay-at-home mom (a.k.a. “a broker—investing in her childrenʼs future”), always at the ready to bake brownies or her delicious apple crisp, have a catch with her daughter in the backyard, or drive to baseball, football, softball, basketball, track or wrestling practices and events. In the 1970s, Don suggested getting her a CB radio for her maroon Pontiac Catalina and assigning her the handle “Red Taxi.” Helen was a kind, generous, and loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend, always putting others before herself. She was the caretaker not only for her husband and kids but also, in their later years, for her mother and mother-inlaw. She had a naturally perfect smile (before orthodontics), quick wit and friendly disposition. Helen never complained and faced lifeʼs many challenges, including metastatic lung cancer in her 90s, head on with an “it is what it is” attitude. She was sharp as a tack, reading the daily newspaper cover to cover—often while wearing her favorite yellow sweater and sipping a cup of Tasterʼs Choice instant coffee (only black!), always current on world and local news, and she never failed to mail her friends and relatives their birthday, anniversary, and graduation cards on time. (With her passing, her family hopes Dollar Tree and Hallmark will be able to stay afloat.) After her children were grown, Helen was relieved that she could finally stop cooking big meals. When someone asked her grandson JT what Grama liked to make for supper, he didnʼt hesitate to answer, “Reservations!” Helen especially enjoyed dining out with family and Daveyʼs friends—Bellissimoʼs, Locker, and The Ridge Diner being
her favorite local haunts. In their retirement, she and Don spent their summers at Kring Point on the St. Lawrence River where they were often joined by their four kids and their families. Her love for the river and the tranquility of Mother Nature lives on in their children and grandchildren. Helen is survived by her loving children, all of whom were “her favorite”: Bob (Dyann), Bill, Carol Vallay (Jules), and John (Stacie); her grandchildren: Jackie and Alex Calder, Rob and Hailey Calder, JT (Alexa), Samantha and James Vallay, Madison (Emma) and Alexa Calder; cousins, nieces, many lifelong friends, especially neighbors Margrit and Herb Willenborg and Joan Lavery, and many dear friends at Kring Point. Besides her parents, Helen was predeceased by her husband Don, sisters Hazel Smith and Elaine Sizeland, and daughter-in-law Pamela Kowar-Calder. As per Helenʼs wishes, she will be cremated and interred with her husband at Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, N.Y., following a memorial service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Hawthorne Reformed Church, 65 Broadway, Hawthorne, NY 10532, or Save the River (savetheriver.org).
Maureen P. BLUST
Maureen Patricia Blust, 82, of River Vale, passed away on Jan. 22, 2022. Maureen was born in Hellʼs Kitchen, New York, in 1939 to wonderful parents, Edward and Mary Abramsen. Her dad passed unexpectedly when she was just 6 months old. She grew up a kind, gentle person in a rough town. But she was pretty tough, too. She graduated from high school and worked at McGraw Hill in New York City. She was married to John Blust, who passed away from cancer as a young man. Suddenly on her own, she had to learn to drive and get a job so she could take care of her older mom and teenage son. She did it all without anyone ever knowing how hard it was at times. She was amazing. She worked in medical records for Valley Hospital in Ridgewood for over 30 years—always with a smile and a kind word. Always on time, every day, except for the occasional snow storm. Driving in snow was probably the only thing that scared her (make that snow and raccoons). She bravely beat breast cancer once. The second time, many years later, she fought it hard with the help of her devoted niece Marlene Vangelas and her husband, Nick, who took care of her when she could no longer live alone. On Jan. 22 she heard God calling her home to be with her Mom CONTINUED ON PAGE 39
