July 8, 1931 ~ August 11, 2023
Carl Caruso, 92, of Reading, MA, beloved husband of 68 years to Joan (O’Kane) Caruso, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 11 at the Bedford VA Hospital with his family at his side.
Carl was born on July 8th, 1931, in Somerville, MA to Pasquale Antonio Caruso and Florence Colonna. He was the youngest of 6 children, including siblings Charles, Paul, Lena, Lucy, and Elizabeth. As a child, Carl fondly remembers helping his mother make classic Italian dishes; his job was to seal up the ravioli with a fork after the pasta was rolled out flat and the ricotta filling was placed. Throughout his school years, Carl was an active member of the community. He was involved with the church as an altar boy, then later in high school as a bible class teacher. In 6th grade, Carl and another classmate were in charge of taking the money collected for savings bonds to the bank to cash in for WWII bonds. Carl was also captain of the traffic squad in high school, where he would patrol the halls between classes and ensured everyone was moving from place to place in an orderly manner. In high school, Carl received the nickname “Smiley” from one of his teachers as he was always known to be happy and smiling – a fitting nickname for his positive and kind demeanor. Carl ultimately graduated from Somerville High School in 1949. Later in life, Carl took night courses at Northeastern University and was only two courses short from obtaining his Associate’s Degree.
Carl began his service with the US Army on August 7, 1952, during the Korean War. He served seven months on the front lines in Korea, manning a machine gun, and ultimately received the title of Transportation Corporal. His service ended in May of 1954. For his time serving our country, he received the National Defense Service Medal, The Korean Service Medal with Double Bronze Stars, The Combat Infantryman Badge First Award, the United Nations Service Medal, and as of recently in 2019, the Korean Medal of Freedom.
During his time in the service, he was dating Joan O’Kane, who was the love of his life. Carl and Joan married on June 4, 1955, in Somerville, MA. They had a beautiful ceremony and honeymooned in Sebago Lake, Maine. Carl and Joan had two children, Carl Edward, born in 1960, and Lynne, born in 1966, as well as two dogs throughout their wonderful 68 years together. Joan and Carl loved to travel and took many trips with their children, family, and friends over the years. Carl especially enjoyed the trips he took to Alaska, St. Croix, and Bermuda.
Carl and Joan lived in Woburn, MA for 34 years. Then they moved down to Florida in 1996 and lived there until 1998 when they decided to move back to New England to be closer to family. They resided in Derry, NH, then North Andover, MA, for some time, to then resided in Reading, MA, for the last 17 years of Carl’s life.
We will remember Carl for his commitment to his family, love of chocolate and football, and excitement for some time at the casino. He was a hard worker throughout his life and bestowed this attitude on his children, grandchildren, and likely anyone who knew him. This commitment and work ethic can be seen in his devotion to the company he worked at, Compo Shoe, for 25 years.
Through and through, Carl was always someone you could go to for advice or help. He was known for helping family with their home furnishings, grandchildren with their math homework, or neighbors with their grocery bags. As a true family man, he loved holidays and spending time with those he loved. He was one who loved a good joke and could be heard cracking one at a family gathering. No matter the situation, Carl always had a positive outlook and held himself to the standard that having “charm, character, personality, perseverance, and integrity” would get you far in life.
Carl was very special and had a profound affect on everyone he met. He will be missed dearly, but his family will ensure his legacy and memories live on.
Carl is the devoted father of Lynne (Caruso) McEachern and her husband Scott and the late Carl Edward Caruso and his wife Darlene (Steber) Caruso. Cherished grandfather of Kayla McEchern, Lisa (Caruso) Phillips and her husband George and Craig Caruso, great grandfather of Grant and Landon. He also leaves and many loving nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. He is predeceased by parents Pasquale Antonio and Florence Colonna, siblings Charles “Charlie” Caruso, Lena MacLannan, Elizabeth “Betty” Venuti, Paul Caruso, and Lucy Violanto.
Funeral from the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St., North Reading (Corner of Rt. 28 and Park St. at the Reading Line) on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at 9:30 am, followed by a Funeral Mass to Celebrate Carl at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St., North Reading at 10:30 am. Interment to follow in Ridgewood Cemetery, North Andover.
Family and friends are cordially invited to visiting hours at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 15 from 4 to 8 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Carl’s Memory to the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veteran’s Hospital, 200 Springs Rd., Bedford, MA 01730.
