Obituary of Virginia D. Carlson

Virginia Delores Carlson, age 89 and 11/12ths, passed away Sunday, May 2, 2021 at UPMC Chautauqua. Born in Jamestown, NY, she was the last surviving child of eight children born to the late Edwin A. and Johanna K. Pederson Anderson. Virginia grew up with her seven brothers and sisters on Woodlawn Avenue and Camp Street in Jamestown and was a graduate of Jamestown High School. In her early years, she worked at Jamestown Royal, the Printz Company and Art Metal Corporation. On February 14, 1958, she married Charles E. Carlson and together they raised four children in a wonderful neighborhood on Shadyside Avenue in Lakewood where the couple still resided. Virginia will be remembered as a loving, caring wife, mother and grandmother who always put her family first. She was very involved with her children and grandchildren. When her children were older she went back to work at 210 Pine, The Town Club, where she spent many enjoyable years working in the office with her first cousin, Bev Wallen. She also started to enrich her life by taking many adult education classes. She also enjoyed flowers and having a garden. During retirement Virginia and her husband joined the West Ellicott Senior Citizens where they both enjoyed many long distance, as well as day trips. She also traveled with the Jamestown and Mayville Senior Citizen groups. A desire to stay healthy led Virginia to take numerous fitness classes (senior aerobics) at the Lakewood Rec Center and the YMCA in Jamestown. She also enjoyed walking, especially at Chautauqua Institution in the spring and fall. Virginia loved all kinds of music, theater and movies. She enjoyed many concerts at country fairs and looked forward to performances at Chautauqua Institution and many other venues. Our mother was a wonderful cook and loved to gather the family for delicious meals in the Swedish smorgasbord tradition for holidays where there was always a beautiful, real, live Christmas tree. Virginia is survived by her husband, Charles, of Lakewood; four children: Kimberly Lombardo (Stephen) of Jamestown, Daniel Carlson (Laurie) of Ashville, NY, Clinton Carlson (Debbie) of Jamestown and Penny Gesaman (John Silk) of Jamestown; five grandchildren: Kristin Griffis of Warren, PA, Korey Carlson (Meaghan) of Buffalo, NY, Andrew Gesaman and Brandon Gesaman, both of Ashville, and Megan Trask (Beau) of Russell, PA; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Virginia is predeceased by five sisters: Margaret Anderson, Patricia Ostrom, Nancy Anderson, Betty Anderson and Gloria Morrison; two brothers: Norman Anderson and Gordon Anderson; and a son-in-law, Christopher Gesaman. A private service and burial were held at Sunset Hill Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Lakewood Memorial Library, 12 W. Summit St., Lakewood, NY 14750.