Obituary of Carolyn Ann Mahoney

With profound sadness and broken hearts, we announce the passing of Carolyn Ann Ligon Mahoney, a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. Carolyn, 68, of Manalapan, NJ departed this world on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Chippenham Hospital in Richmond, VA, leaving behind a legacy of love, compassion, empathy, and unwavering devotion to her family and community.

Carolyn was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, a place that remained forever close to her heart. The red dirt roads and warm embrace of her childhood home called to her spirit throughout her life, grounding her in faith, family, and tradition. She was a woman of deep kindness, selflessness, and strength, the matriarch of her family, and the rock upon which so many leaned.  Carolyn began her education at the New Rising Star School and continued to Lewis Adams Elementary School. Her high school years were spent at the Tuskegee Institute High School. It did not stop there; she went on to pursue her higher education at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy on June 1981.  While her allied health career began at the Hale Hospital in Haverhill, MA, Carolyn spent the bulk of her career working at hospitals within the Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) Network. She worked for HMH for over 36 years.

A hospital pharmacist by profession, she was also a Certified Diabetes Educator and a licensed realtor. Carolyn dedicated her life not only to the health and well-being of her patients but to the betterment of everyone around her. She was a natural caregiver, always putting the needs of others before her own. Whether it was mentoring children, offering a comforting embrace, preparing a warm meal, or simply listening with an open heart, Carolyn's presence was a source of light and comfort to all who knew her.  Her joy came in the simplest yet most beautiful moments — gathering around the kitchen, cooking with love, worshiping with deep faith, reading a good book in the sunshine, or sharing laughter with family and friends. She delighted in music, especially gospel hymns, and could often be heard singing the cherished lyrics of “Nearer My God to Thee,” a song that reflected her unwavering faith in God.

Above all, Carolyn was a devoted wife and mother, the heart and soul of her family. For almost 44 years, she was a loving and dedicated partner to her husband, Derek Mahoney, Sr., and an extraordinary mother to her children, Derek Jr., Stacia, Dawn, and Crystal. Though she suffered the devastating loss of her beloved son, Derek Jr., she carried on with incredible grace and continued to pour her love into those around her.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her father, Robert Ligon; son, Derek Mahoney, Jr.; sister, Ethel Wheatt; and brothers, Esau Ligon, Melvin Ligon, and Willie James Williams.

She leaves behind a family forever changed by her love and devotion:

• Her cherished mother, Mary Ligon, whom she adored and cared for with all her heart.
• Her loving husband, Derek Mahoney, Sr., her partner in life and love.
• Her daughters, Stacia Mahoney, Dawn Mahoney, and Crystal Mahoney, who will carry her strength and warmth forward.
• Her sisters, Jeannette Austin, Ella Cowart, Frankie Williams, Eula Welch, and Lisa Ligon, and her brother, Timothy Ligon, as well as a niece, Patrece Broadenax, who was raised as a sister.
• Her brother-in-law, Darryl Mahoney; sister-in-law, Barbara Mahoney; her niece, Darilyn Mahoney; sister-in-law, Danita Sterling-Brown; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

Carolyn had a rare and extraordinary ability to make everyone feel loved, and her absence will be deeply felt by all who knew her. She never met a stranger, and her generosity, compassion, and radiant spirit touched the lives of so many, who will forever hold her memory close.

Her life was a living example of Proverbs 31:26-28:
 

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

Carolyn’s family takes solace in knowing that she is now in the loving arms of the Lord, reunited with those who went before her. While our hearts are shattered by this loss, we find comfort in the memories, love, and unwavering faith she instilled in all of us.

In loving memory of Carolyn, our plan is to establish in 2025 a memorial scholarship in her name that will largely support aspiring pharmacy students, thus continuing her legacy of encouragement and generosity. Therefore in lieu of flowers, please note that any contributions will be directed to this pending scholarship fund, which will help keep her passion for mentoring and giving alive. Your generous support will provide opportunities for future pharmacists, just as she so often did in her life.

In closing, it is observed that anyone who interacted extensively with Carolyn understands that “to know her was to love her,” and although she is no longer physically with us, her spirit, love, and legacy will remain eternal.

Rest in peace to an angel, our beautiful Carolyn. You are our heart, our guide, and our greatest blessing.

A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held at the Freeman Funeral Home located in Manalapan, NJ on February 24, 2025, where family and friends will gather to honor and cherish the incredible woman that she was. Friends and family will be able to attend a viewing at the funeral home from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with the funeral service spanning from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Entombment will follow starting at 2:15 PM at the Marlboro Memorial Cemetery, which is in Morganville, NJ. Additionally, there will be repast between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM at the Mahoney family home, which will provide food and a venue for sharing memories. To leave a condolence or find directions, visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com.