OBITUARIES

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 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. Devoted 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 friends—Bellissimoʼs, Daveyʼs 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, NewYork, 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

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Thursday, Feb. 10 from 7 to 8 p.m. Register online. • Artist Peri will host a virtual Kids Art Class,via Zoom, on Monday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m. With step-bystep instructions kids will create a personal work of art. All you need is some paper, a pencil, and crayons. Best for age 6 and older. Registration is required.

P PA AR RK K R RI ID DG GE E 51 Park Ave. (201) 391-5151 parkridge.bccls.org • Join Dr. Parmar of Smile Stop Pediatric Dental in Park Ridge for a special Storytime event in celebration of Dental Health Month. Dr. Parmar will be at the library Tuesday, Feb. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to noon. All are welcome, and registration is requested, but not required. This storytime will be held in the Community Room across the hall from the library. Masks required for age 2 and up. Parents/caretakers are asked to stay and participate. • Join Miss Renee for Storytime Thursday morning, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m. in the First Friends room (across the hall from the library). Geared towards toddlers and preschool age, but open to all. Registration required. • Virtual Take-and-Make Crafts with Miss Renee is every Friday at 10 a.m. on the libraryʼs Facebook page. Miss Renee walks kids through a fun craft at home. Call or stop at the library during the week to pick up your craft kit. The videos remain on Facebook; check them out live or anytime your schedule allows. • Virtual Book It! Club with Miss Eileen meets live on the libraryʼs Facebook page Saturdays from 10to 10:30 a.m. Stories, science, and more geared towards kids in primary grades. • Join Trevor Plattel live on the libraryʼs Facebook page (Park Ridge Public Library-NJ) Saturday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. for an awesome cartoon drawing class. This time everyone will learn to draw a Valentine Tweety Bird. KICC It Cartoon Class for Kids requires no registration, and all are invited to log on and learn from one of Park Ridgeʼs talented students. Have pencils, paper, and coloring materials handy.

R RI IV VE ER R V VA AL LE E 412 Rivervale Road (201) 391-2323 rivervalelibrary.org • Drop by the library starting Monday, Feb. 7 to pick up the Adult Take & Makecraft kit. It has the supplies you need to make an upcycled paper heart decoration. No registration required. Crafts are first come, first served. • Are you a tea lover or just getting started and want to taste and learn? Join the libraryʼs Tea Club! Sign up each month to receive a sample of a different variety of tea. The pick for February is Tulsi Sweet Rose from Organic India. Pick up begins Feb. 7. River Vale residents only. Register online. • At the Tween and Teen Craft session on Monday, Feb. 7 from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m., River Vale residents grades 5–8 can create a fun love bug made from yarn, pom poms, and pipecleaners. Registration required. • Catch the film “Last Night in Soho” (R, 2021) at the library Tuesday, Feb. 8 during the Movie Matinee from 1 to 3 p.m. Space is limited. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. All participants must sign a hold harmless agreement to attend. • Friends of the River Vale Library Book Group will meet in the community room Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. to discuss “The Nature of Fragile Things” by Susan Meissner. The club meets the second Wednesday every month. Join them! Upcoming dates/titles, and registration, both available online. • Virtual Chair Yoga meets via Zoom on Thursday, Feb. 10 from 1:30–2:30 p.m. This gentle form of yoga is specially designed for seniors and people with disabilities to help them strengthen, stretch, and tone the body, and to connect body, mind and spirit. Register for Zoom access. • The Hybrid Knit & Crochet Clubwill meet both in person in the library community room and via Zoom on Friday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon. Bring a project to work on and chat with other members. New members of all skill levels are welcome. If attending virtually, register to receive meeting link. If attending in person, bring a mask and be prepared to sign a hold harmless form. • Drop by the library Saturday, Feb. 12 to pick up a Valentineʼs Day Craft-to-Go for your child to complete at home. One per child, pre-K through fifth grade, while supplies last. • During Jewelry with Jess, for fourth grade and up, Miss Jess will be on hand to help kids make for Februaryʼs kit (sumac) online; pickup starts Feb. 14. • In-person Storytimes will begin on Feb. 17 and run through March 18. Visit the libraryʼs website to register for Infant and Toddler Storytime, Fridays at 10 a.m., or Pre-K Storytime, Thursdays at 10 a.m. Masks are required for all over 2 years old.

Obituaries:

FROM PAGE 38

and Dad, and all her loved ones she missed and talked about so much. Now itʼs our turn, the lucky ones, to talk about you and miss you always. Rest in peace, Mo.

The lucky ones who will miss her every day are her son, Ed Blust, and his wife Bee Borromeo; her beloved sister, Margaret Miller; her grandchildren Megan and John Blust; her nieces and nephews and their kids; her many friends; and all the dogs and people who loved her and whom she loved.

The funeral Mass was at St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Hillsdale. A graveside service followed at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the American Cancer Society. T TO OW WN NS SH HI IP P O OF F

W WA AS SH HI IN NG GT TO ON N 144 Woodfield Road (201) 664-4586 twpofwashingtonpl.org • Cartooning Class for tweens and teens grade 6 and up takes place Monday, Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. This session is virtual. Register online. • Monthly Adult Crafts continue with Februaryʼs project, heartshaped button art in a shadowbox. Visit the libraryʼs website to register, then pick up your craft kit Monday, Feb. 7 at the library. Log onto the libraryʼs Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or website anytime after Thursday, Feb. 10 at noon to watch the instructional video. • Virtual Preschool Story Time is every Tuesday at 10 a.m. on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and the libraryʼs website. No registration needed. • In the Book Cooks Club— next date, Wednesday, Feb. 9 at noon—join Allyssa virtually in her kitchen to cook up a new dish or two! Cook along live or watch the video on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or the libraryʼs website to see how itʼs done before you give it a try. Recipes are posted on the libraryʼs website. • STEAM Thursday is all about making crafts and trying science experiments. The next session, Feb. 10 at 3:45 p.m., will be virtual via Facebook and YouTube. It will be a Valentine craft with materials to pick up in advance at the library. Grades K–5. Register online. • Spice up your kitchen! Try something new and sign up for one of the libraryʼs spice kits. A new kit is offered each month. Included inside is a spice or dried herb, information about the ingredient, and some recipes to try. Register Hannah-Jones. Adults are welcome to join the book talk to be presented online by Professor Richard Bell, professor of history at the University of Maryland, Thursday, Feb. 10 from 7 to 8 p.m. “The 1619 Project” was a special edition of The New York Times Magazine that sought to focus attention on the centrality of race slavery in American history, and analyzed how slavery impacted the social, economic, and political institutions in America. Dr. Bell will discuss four of the central theses of “The 1619 Project.” Register for access. • The Coffee & Conversation series continues Friday, Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. Each week, the group gathers virtually to listen to a fun, interesting, short podcast and then have a chat about it. Register online for meeting link. • Debate Club (grades 6–8) is on Google Meet every Friday afternoon in February from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Students gain valuable experience in public speaking, forming and defending arguments, and logic. The club meets to read sources, compare research, play games to enhance critical thinking, and prepare arguments. Register online. • The Junior Library Council presents “Friday Night Folk Tales” on Instagram, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. This winter, kids can enjoy a new themed story read to them each week by a volunteer member of the JLC. Themes vary each month; February brings African tales. Best for ages 4–10. Readings are posted Friday evenings on Instagram. • Friends of the Library will hold a Book Sale on Saturday, Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Books, magazines, DVDs and more for great prices. Donations for the sale are collected Mondays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

W WE ES ST TW WO OO OD D 49 Park Ave. (201) 664-0583 westwoodpubliclibrary.org • The library is offering a virtual Intro to Chess program for grades 6–12. The four-session class, via Zoom, takes place Monday afternoons from 4 to 4:45 p.m. starting Feb. 7 and ending March 7 (no class Feb. 21). Learn the basics of the game. To receive the full benefit, it is best to attend all sessions. Sign up online. • Peek-A-Book Story Time (children to age 5) is Wednesday, Feb. 9 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the library. Children will listen to stories, sing, dance, do fingerplays, review numbers, colors, animals and more. Register online. • No-Bake Valentineʼs Day Cookies with Shoprite, for grades 6–12, takes place via WebEx on Wednesday, Feb. 9 from 4 to 4:45 p.m. There is nothing but “yum” when you make this easy and nutrition-conscious, mouth-watering treat. Find recipe with ingredient list online. Registration required. • In Black History Month Bingo, kids will play this popular game with a twist—they win by recognizing well-known African Americans. Grades 3–5. Via Google Meet, Thursday, Feb. 10 from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Register online; the library will contact you when the bingo cards are ready for pick up. • The next title in the Reading for Equity book discussion series is “The 1619 Project” by Nikole