Carolyn Elizabeth Maikis Carto, 69, of Mansfield, Ohio, succumbed on October 23, 2026 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Born on Christmas Day, 1956, in White Plains, New York, Carolyn grew up in Hillsdale, New Jersey, where she graduated from Pascack Hills High School in 1975. She then attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, where she met her future husband, David D. “Duffy” Carto. After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Carolyn moved to Cleveland, Ohio while Duffy attended law school there. Carolyn and Duffy were married in New Jersey on September 6, 1981, and spent the next 45 years together in Mansfield raising their family.
Carolyn was a consummate hostess, devoted mother, and the heart of her family. She found her greatest joy in the love she shared with her children and, in recent years, her cherished grandchildren, Elle and Colin. Cooking was her passion and she found great joy creating meals and treats for her family and friends, especially her renowned decorated sugar cookies. She loved to grow flowers, herbs and vegetables, and always made sure the birds outside her kitchen window were well-fed during the wintertime. She also loved to read, watch Christmas movies, and do crossword puzzles – completing the Sunday New York Times puzzle in ink was child’s-play to Carolyn!
The Mansfield community benefited greatly from Carolyn’s involvement, as a volunteer, member, and officer on local boards, including the Mansfield Art Center, Richland County Foundation Women’s Fund, Mansfield General and MedCentral Hospital Auxiliary, Wednesday Study Club, Heritage Garden Club and Alcoholics Anonymous.
Being a Christmas baby had its benefits, since the family’s plans for the holiday revolved around what Carolyn wanted, but it was Carolyn herself who made everyone’s Christmas the most special day of the year for them as well. She carried the Christmas spirit with her throughout the year and anyone who got to know Carolyn would probably say that she was one of the nicest people they had ever met.
Family was everything to Carolyn. She was at her happiest just being with her children and grandchildren, planning every day, every meal, every trip and every event around her family in one way or the other. In turn, Carolyn’s family was devoted to her – if she wanted to go to the Shiloh Ox Roast on a Friday night when there were other things to do, the family went to Shiloh!
While Carolyn was happy being at home with her family on Ballylin Farm, she also loved to travel. Italy, Greece, Spain, Crete, France, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico and Canada were among her destinations, but she particularly enjoyed traveling with just her son or daughter, including trips to Paris, Montreal, Nashville, Aspen, Santa Fe and along the East Coast. One of her favorite places on earth was the beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea in Florida, where she spent many hours reading on the Sea Colony seawall, while contemplating which restaurant to go to that evening.
Carolyn Carto, known as “CC” to her grandchildren, is survived by her husband, Duffy, son David (Annalee) Carto, daughter Anne (Evan) Kurtis, grandchildren Elle and Colin Kurtis, brother Robert (Lori) Maikis, and sisters Susan (Mark) Hans and Priscilla (Rocco) Cionni, nieces and nephews Sarah Hans, Jack Hans, Leigh Ann Cionni, Andrew Crislip, Romano Cionni, Tom Hans, Jenny Maikis, Charlie Maikis, Michael Cionni, Matt Crislip, Jason Maikis, Connor Carto, and Sam Carto, and in-laws Amy and Scott Crislip, Tom and Laurie Carto, and Terry Carto. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Janet Maikis and parents-in-law, David L. and Frances Carto.
Calling hours will be held at the Marion Avenue Chapel of Snyder Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 from 3 to 7 pm. Mass and funeral services will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on October 29, 2026 at 10 am.
Contributions to Carolyn’s memory may be made to the Mansfield Art Center, Kingwood Center Gardens, or the Richland County Foundation Women’s Fund. The family would also like to extend their thanks for Carolyn’s nurses and caregivers at Cleveland Clinic, OhioHealth, Cornerstone, Centerwell and Southern Care Hospice.
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home, Marion Avenue Chapel
Website: www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com