Carolyn Poulakowski, of Woodbridge, passed away on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at her home surrounded by her family.  She was 81 years old.

Born in Jersey City, NJ, Carolyn graduated 3rd in her class from Henry Snyder High School. She resided in Woodbridge for the past 53 years.

Carolyn was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and devoted friend.  She enjoyed summer vacations in Ortley Beach which she shared with her children and grandchildren. Her love of gardening made her the designated master gardener who fielded all her family and friends' questions.  Carolyn enjoyed traveling the world - among her favorite locations were the Grand Canyon, Hawaii, Alaska, Italy and Ireland. She also cruised through the Panama Canal!

She made friends easily and never hesitated to offer help and support to all.  She loved spending time with family and friends and particularly enjoyed dancing, playing cards, attending the theater and concerts.

Carolyn's grandchildren were her biggest joy.  She shared her love of the beach and passion for playing cards - especially Crazy 8's - with them and rarely missed a sporting event or awards ceremony.

Carolyn was Secretary to the Treasurer at Stevens Institute of Technology, bookkeeper at Alexander's Men's Shop, Perth Amboy and Administrative Assistant at PNC Bank in East Brunswick retiring in 1999.

She was a parishioner at St. James R.C. Church in Woodbridge and volunteered at the St. James Food Pantry for many years.   She was a member, and former treasurer, of The Ernest R. Hansen Ladies Auxiliary at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy and former Treasurer and Officer for the Widows and Widowers Middlesex East Chapter.  She also volunteered at the Barron Arts Center.

She was predeceased by her husband John Poulakowski who passed away in 1988, her parents Alfred and Arlene Kopycko Lesiak, and her brother Alfred Lesiak.

Surviving are her daughter Lisa Hannigan and her husband Kevin of Freehold and their sons Patrick and Christopher, her son Thomas Poulakowski and his wife JoAnn of Colonia and their daughters Amanda and Ally, her sister Judith Lesiak of Charlottesville, Virginia and many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be Wednesday June 16, 2021 from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Costello-Greiner Funeral Home 44 Green Street at Barron Avenue, Woodbridge.

The Funeral Liturgy will take place Friday 10:30 am at St. James R.C. Church, Woodbridge.  Interment will be in St. Gertrude's Cemetery, Colonia.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to The St. James Food Pantry 145 Grove Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095 or St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude's Place, Memphis, TN 38105.