Gloria Carlson was born June 21, 1943 and passed peacefully Thursday, April 13, 2023.
Gloria grew up in Brooklyn where she and her family enjoyed activities in and around New York City. As a teenager, she played the piano and went on to graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She worked at Junior Sophisticates for a time, then returned to college to become a kind, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and loving teacher for the next 30 years.
While in Brooklyn, Gloria volunteered for about 10 years working on a telephone hotline to find safe refuge for abused women and children. Eventually a building was established for their temporary living quarters in Park Slope. She was also a pioneer in recycling metals (mostly cat food cans!) before anyone else in NYC!!
In the early 1980s, Gloria was introduced to Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism. Her Buddhist practice was an integral part of her life. She attributed many victories in overcoming obstacles and challenges to chanting for herself and others. This was evident the moment you met her. She was a warm and trusting person who found joy in giving to others. She had a radiant personality and a marvelous gift for deep and abiding friendship.
Gloria was devoted to supporting and caring for her Buddhist family. She was a “true Buddha” in this life - a role model of a selfless, compassionate, generous human being who touched many people’s hearts and was truly able to blend her Buddhist practice into her daily life.
Gloria was familiar with the Catskills and decided that this was the area she wanted to retire in. She visited Andes, New York and instantly fell in love with the town. She bought a house and dove into her new community. Being new to Andes, she set a goal to meet the people by volunteering at the Andes Thrift Shop and, having been an educator who loved literature, she naturally gravitated to the Andes Public Library. She served in many capacities for the remainder of her life: board trustee, director, acquisitions and catalog specialist, and garden tour committee chair. She was instrumental in getting the library patron computers from the Gates Foundation in the early 2000s and assisted in the planning of two major renovations in 2007-2008 and 2019-2020. In addition, Gloria volunteered for the Andes Gazette.
Gloria kept an amazing garden and was devoted to feeding the birds - especially hummingbirds and Baltimore orioles. Gloria was also a talented artist. She loved to paint, quilt and do needlepoint. She supported other local artists, as well as organizations that supported animals. She found great companionship with her dogs and cats and was generous in her giving to shelters and animal rights groups.
Gloria loved to travel and was adventurous, so she traveled to Scandinavia to visit family, all over Europe, several times to India, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Belgium. Gloria loved and went on many whale-watching excursions.
Gloria is predeceased by her parents Karen and Gustav Carlson and survived by her brother Ken, sister-in-law Jeanne, her nephew Ken (Monica), her niece Karen (Chris), and grandnieces and grandnephews Christopher, Shayla, Isabel, Nora and Kenneth.
A memorial service and celebration of life will take place Saturday, May 6 at 1:30 p.m., Streamside Yoga, 506 Main Street, Andes.
In lieu of flowers, make contributions in Gloria’s memory to the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society or the Andes Public Library.
