Obituary of Carol Miner Gustafson

Carol Miner Gustafson died on Sunday, November 22, 2009, at her home on Prudence Lane in the Washington Valley area of Mendham Township, with family at her bedside. A long time resident of Brookside, who served the town she loved in various capacities, she is survived by her husband, Thor; her three children, Gwenda Elin Gustafson Malnati, Gregory Miner Gustafson and Thomas Gustafson; nine grandchildren, Jonathan Malnati, Melissa Malnati Laskowski, Erik Gustafson, Anders Gustafson, Margaret Gustafson, Emily Gustafson, Sarah Gustafson, Britta Gustafson, and Elisabeth Gustafson; and one great-grandchild, Henry Chase Laskowski. Born and raised in Madison, New Jersey, Carol graduated from Middlebury College, with a major in Political Science. She moved to Brookside in 1948, where she lived first on Stony Hill Road before moving to Washington Valley in 1977. She worked for Mendham Township as an Assistant Township Clerk, Secretary to the Planning Board, and Municipal Court Clerk. She was one of the first two female Township Committee members. She was also a member of the Brookside Community Church and became one of its first female deacons. She took deep joy in serving many years as a volunteer and on the board for the Mendham Township Library and participating as a volunteer and in leadership positions for such local organizations as the PTA, the Washington Valley Community Association, the Washington Valley Twigs, and the West Morris Chapter for the American Field Service. Carol will always be remembered as someone who gave extraordinary care and beautiful good cheer to her family, her friends, her neighbors, and to the vibrant local associations of Brookside: its town government, the library, the church, its schools, and its post office. A private family graveside service was held at Hilltop Cemetery. A memorial service will be held for her at the Brookside Community Church on Sunday at 1:00 pm, December 20th. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in her name to the Mendham Township Library, Cherry Lane, PO Box 500, Brookside, New Jersey, 07926. Arrangements by the Bailey Funeral Home of Mendham. www.baileyfuneral.com