Carol E. Mueller passed peacefully March 5, 2025, at home surrounded by her family.
Carol was born March 13, 1934, in Passaic to Fred and May Walter, the youngest of their four children. In school, Carol won “most likely to succeed” and “most athletic” and was well liked by her classmates.
She married August “Joe” Mueller shortly after completing school in April 1952. They lived briefly in Springfield before moving into a new house in Middletown, where Carol lived until 2022. They were married for 45 years.
The family enjoyed skiing, trips to Florida and spending time with a great group of neighbors on Libby Place. Carol was a loving, energetic mother, who found joy in caring for her family, always attending to everyone’s needs before her own.
After raising her children, Carol spent many years working as a travel agent. She was organized and efficient, and she found it rewarding to help people plan their special trips. This career allowed her and Joe to travel a lot which they both enjoyed tremendously.
As a talented seamstress, Carol created perfect outfits for the family. She was also an accomplished baker. No holiday was complete without her famous “fruit tart,” which was so beautiful it almost looked inedible. Carol had a knack for always leaving something more beautiful than she found it.
Always active, Carol was never one to sit still. She was one of the founding members of the “Inchkins,” a club dedicated to building dollhouses and miniatures.
Adored mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, “Gram” will be sorely missed by all. Her grace, kindness, poise, generosity and stamina were unmatched right up to the end of her life.
She is survived by her loving children: her daughter and best friend, Carol Coyle; her son, James Mueller and daughter-in-law Colleen; her son, Richard Mueller and daughter-in-law Helen; her grandchildren: Cheryl (Timothy) Crane, Daniel (Maribel) Mueller, Katherine Mueller, Michelle (George) Miron, Stephen (Gabriella) Mueller, Patricia (Michael) Wilson, Karen (Jay) Mueller and Thomas (Tara) Coyle; and her great-grandchildren: Rylee Marsh, Hudson Crane, Jack Crane, Noah Mueller, Willow Tomaszewski, Robert Mueller, Vincent Mueller, Colleen Mueller, Katherine Mueller, TJ Coyle, Claire Griffin and Oliver Miron.
Arrangements are under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown.
The article originally appeared in the March 20 – 26, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
