Obituary of Lois J. Pruden

Lois June Pruden (née Carnathan)

Resident of Spring Hill, Tennessee

March 30, 1928 – February 15, 2023

Lois June Pruden, formerly of Paterson and Riverdale, New Jersey, passed away quietly on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, after a brief illness.  She was a remarkable member of the “Greatest Generation” – a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and caring older sibling to her younger brothers and sisters. 

Lois was born in Paterson, NJ, to George Sutor and Irene Kamerling Carnathan, the second of nine children.  She spent her youth in Paterson, graduating from Eastside High School in 1946.  Upon graduation Lois went to work for NJ Bell Telephone as a bookkeeper.

In addition to enjoying dancing to the music of that era, Lois also enjoyed roller skating, where she met her devoted husband of 71 years, Richard (Dick).   She and Dick married September 18, 1948.  After honeymooning in Cape Cod and Canada, they lived on the second floor of Dick’s parent’s house on 14^th Avenue in Paterson.  Both their sons were born while living in Paterson.  With the birth of her first son, Lois ceased working outside the home and devoted herself to raising her family.  She also briefly worked for Berlex Laboratories in the mid-1980’s, until Dick’s retirement in late 1987.  The family moved to Riverdale, NJ, in April 1958, residing there for the next 30 years.  In retirement, she and Dick lived in North Carolina, California and twice in Tennessee.

Lois enjoyed organizing and hosting family gatherings and socializing with neighbors.  She fondly reminisced about family get-togethers in her later years.  She and Dick enjoyed dancing to Big Band music and attending Broadway Shows.  Another of their favorite pastimes was traveling, both in the United States and abroad.  Among her favorite travel locations were Hawaii, Florida, Bermuda, cruising the Caribbean, and extended vacations to England, Germany and The Netherlands, where her sons were stationed, as well as other Western European countries. 

Lois was predeceased by her husband Dick, as well as brothers Robert and Walter Carnathan, sisters Iva Carnathan Bankos and Beverly Carnathan Dews.  She is survived by her devoted sons Glenn (late Leslie) and Craig (Deborah); grandchildren Chris (Caitlin), Mackenzie, Doug (Kristi), and Megan; great-grandchildren Kaylynn (Mackenzie), Jayden, Isaiah and Ava Lyn (Chris & Caitlin) and, Isabella and Calum (Doug & Kristi); brothers William Carnathan (late Ruth) Harold (Mary), and sisters Jean Carnathan Easdale and Claire Carnathan Hoppstadter.  Lois’s caring and generous spirit enriched the lives of everyone who knew her.  She will be dearly missed.

A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, NJ.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Lois’s honor be made to Susan G. Komen or Gentiva Hospice, 101 Creekstone Blvd., Suite 101, Franklin, TN 37064.