Carolyn Bentzien

Carolyn Bentzien, a resident of White Plains, New York, passed away on September 18, 2024. She was 67 years old. Carolyn was born on July 15, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois to David Koe and Rhea Laura Lee.

Throughout her life, she lived in many places, ranging from Florida to New Jersey to Canada, where she studied International Relations and later earned an M.B.A. from the University of Toronto. She began her career in finance at the Bank of Montreal, and proceeded to work for many international banks, most recently in her favorite city in the world, New York. She was ever-curious and traveled widely throughout her adult life – she especially enjoyed talking about her trip to the Amazon and was dazzled by the golden Buddha in Bangkok. Her enthusiasm for discovering the world and its cultures led her to learn many languages, including German, a pursuit that allowed her to cross paths with Jörg Bentzien in Los Angeles. They married in 2001 and shortly after their daughter, Alexandra Christina, was born. Together, the family lived in Westchester, where Carolyn actively played tennis, learned piano, and continued studying languages, including French, Chinese, Arabic, and Spanish. She retired from Citi in June of 2024.

She is survived by her husband, Jörg; her daughter, Alexandra; her mother, Rhea; and her brothers, Martin and Theodore.

She was predeceased by her beloved brother Phillip Koe.

Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1st from 3-7 p.m. at Edward F Carter Funeral Home, 41 Grand Street, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520. A Mass of Catholic Burial is scheduled for Wednesday, October 2nd at 11 a.m. at the Sisters of the Divine Compassion Chapel, 52 North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603. The inurnment will be at Woodland Cemetery in London, Ontario, Canada.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her honor to the American Heart Association.