Rita Katherine Carlson

Rita Katherine Carlson, 96, of Sparta, NJ passed away on September 22, 2014 at Newton Memorial Hospital. Rita was born in the Bronx, New York and lived in Westwood and River Vale, New Jersey before moving to Sparta in 1974. She worked as a bookkeeper for many years at Burns and Roe Inc., in Oradell and Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, NJ. She was a member of the Lake Mohawk Golf Club, the Our Lady of the Lake Church Rosary and Altar Society and Right to Life Committee there. She was proud of her Irish heritage and being a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of the Lake. Rita enjoyed a good laugh and a well-made Manhattan. Rita volunteered at her daughters’ schools and for the church functions for many years. She crocheted for her loving family and always kept a beautiful home. She always dressed to the nines. Rita is predeceased by her beloved husband Robert and survived by her devoted daughters: Kathleen Makoujy and her husband Thomas of Sparta, NJ; Barbara Collins of Mahwah, NJ and Joanne Stumpe and her husband Kenneth of E. Stroudsburg, PA. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: Colleen LaVaglia and her husband Michael; Jeffery Mase and his wife Christine; David Mase, Jessica Soehngen and her husband Jason; Kellie Ritter and her husband Michael; Kaitlyn Collins; Jake Collins; Matthew Stumpe; Jenifer Stumpe; and Marine Corporal Robert Stumpe and 15 loving great grandchildren. A funeral mass will be held at 11am Thursday at Our Lady of the Lake Church, 294 Sparta Ave., Sparta, NJ 07871. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to masses said for her at Our Lady of the Lake Church. The Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main St., Sparta, NJ 07871 is in charge of arrangements.