Obituary of Carole J. Samson

Carole Jeanne Samson (Mergo) age 79, of Harveys Lake, passed away Friday, December 31, 2021 at Kingston Health Care Center. She was predeceased by her first husband Lou Johnson in 1991, and by her second husband Dan Samson in 2012, her parents John (“Snoggy”) and Anne (Skladany) Mergo, her sister and brother-in-law Patricia (“Patsy”) and Alexander (“Sonny”) Dombrowski, and her nephew Paul. She is survived by husband Dan’s son and three daughters from his first marriage, Kenneth, Suzanna, Julie, and Marcie. She is also survived by her sister’s family to whom she was very close: Nieces Sharon and husband Raymond Shupa, and Debbie Dombrowski. Nephews Thomas Dombrowski, Stephen and Patty Dombrowski, and David and Ina Dombrowski. Carole is also survived by many, many cousins, as her Mother had ten siblings, now scattered far and wide, with new generations of families. Perhaps more closely to her favorite Aunt “Libby's” sons, Tony & Vic Krivitski (aka “Matt and Mike” and sister Mary) and her Aunt “Trudy” with whom she gathered for Thanksgiving, other Holidays and Celebrations, in the company of so many of her life-long and closest friends in and around Harveys Lake, such as Rick Roberts, Colleen Keating, but so very many others as well, like Charlie Musial. Carole grew up in Plymouth Pa., and graduated in 1959 from Shawnee Arrow High School, where she played trumpet, amongst her other activities. She subsequently attended all of her high school reunions and worked on their 50th reunion committee. She was an Executive Secretary for Bethlehem Steel and lived in the Dunellen / Greenbrook NJ area for a few years. Upon returning to Harveys Lake she entered public service, serving as Borough Secretary for many years, running and being elected to the Borough Council, and finally becoming the first woman elected as Mayor of Harveys Lake, serving from 2017 until her death. As Mayor, it was often said that she practiced her ‘Miss America wave’ for the 4th of July parade around the lake. Carole was proud of her work in public service. She and several of her friends enjoyed their ‘Red Hat Society’ over their luncheons. Carole loved going to casinos, often taking her Aunt Trudy, and going to the beach. She was a lover of all cats, but her favorites were those of black and white. Friends and family gave her last three cats good homes. The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Kingston Health Care Center for their dedicated service and excellent care during her stay. The family also wishes to thank Hospice of the Scared Heart for caring for Carole in her final days. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 3:00 PM from the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek, with Deacon Eugene Blockus of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, officiating. Due to COVID-19, the family requests masks for both the service and visitation. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday. Private internment ceremonies will be at a later date. Online condolences can be made at clswansonfuneralhome.com