Carole J Carlsten

With deep sadness and profound love, we announce the passing of Carole Johnson Carlsten (79), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many. After a 5+ year battle with ovarian cancer, she passed away peacefully in her Boca Raton, Florida home on April 17th, surrounded by those she cherished most.

She is survived by her husband Rus, and their 4 children – Kristine Salvo (Kirk), Tracy Fine (Greg), Scott Carlsten (Cheryl), Katherine Kaplan (Matthew), her 10 grandchildren – Ashley Iwuc (Alex), Cassandra Bettwy (Christopher), Maxwell Carlsten, Ezekiel Salvo, Graham Salvo (Allegra), Nicholas & Spencer Fine, Zoe, Skyler & Lola Kaplan, and 2 great grandchildren - Cameron & Emery Carole Bettwy, and her dear sister, Susan Johnson (BJ). Carole is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Barbara Johnson.

Carole was born on March 2, 1946 in Providence, RI. She graduated from Cranston HS East where she was a cheerleader and a class officer, and remained active with the Class of ’63 Reunion Committee. She was a Ramette at the University of RI, majored in mathematics, and married her childhood sweetheart on July 16th, 1964. She graduated on time, with two children, and soon added two more. Carole and Rus celebrated their 60th anniversary last year.

Carole loved teaching mathematics at Western Hills Middle School, was an avid runner, winning numerous age-group races, and was an active tennis player – her tennis league girlfriends remain lifelong friends. She enjoyed teaching tennis, instructing yoga classes, and leading training runs in her happy place – Boston YMCA’s Sandy Island Family Camp - on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH for over 20 years. After her camp years, she took up golf, never meeting a golf course she didn’t love; it became a welcome respite over the last several decades.

Those who knew Carole knew how much she treasured her husband, her children, her sister, and their extended families. Her grace, elegance, humor, warmth, and love will be missed by all who knew her. Each summer, she eagerly anticipated returning to RI to open her camper at Jamestown’s Fort Getty on Narragansett Bay. Summer highlights included the family vacation week on beautiful Block Island, partaking in RI’s bountiful clams & shellfish, making chowder, and communing with campground crew & native RI’ers.

She loved exercising at the Boca YMCA but was happiest when she was outdoors… bike riding, gardening, hiking, reading, skiing, scuba diving, or just being by the water – be it Winnipesaukee, the Caribbean, the many beaches of RI’s Ocean State or South Florida. She also loved adventure – cruising and traveling to the Mediterranean & Baltic Seas, British Isles, Europe, St. Maarten, Hawaii, Martha’s Vineyard, and Key West.

In addition to being an amazing mom to her family of four, Carole was a Wrestling Mom to hundreds of Rusty’s RI College wrestlers. As a wife, Carole’s devotion to her husband was exemplary for married couples everywhere; as a mother, her dignity and tender love molded her children in a way that was, fittingly, perfect for each.

A Celebration of Life is planned at Phillips Memorial Baptist Church in Cranston RI, on July 5th with a 2 pm service with a reception to follow. The family would like to thank Vitas Healthcare Hospice and Neptune Society Cremation Services for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Carole’s name to RI College Wrestling (www.GoAnchormen.com/Athletics), Sandy Island Family Camp/SICIF Fund (https://give.ymcaboston.org/campaign/660990/donate) or to your favorite cancer or hospice organization.