Carolyn B. Huggins

Carolyn Huggins, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and “Gaga,” passed away peacefully on September 2, 2026, at the age of 86.

Born on June 29, 1940, in Richmond Hill, New York, Carolyn was the daughter of Violet and William Wondergem. She grew up alongside her sisters, Judith and Violet. Raised in humble circumstances, Carolyn learned from her parents the importance of hard work, perseverance, and caring for family—values she carried throughout her life.

In 1962, Carolyn married the love of her life, William Huggins. Together, they raised their two children, Sheryl and William, and worked hard to provide their family with a good life. Carolyn spent 21 years as a devoted stay-at-home mother while also working nights as an American Home Toy Party consultant.

Following Bill’s passing in 1989, Carolyn began a new chapter at Stony Brook University, where she worked for 26 years. She retired in 2016 at the age of 75 as a Senior Staff Assistant in the Electrical Engineering Department.

Carolyn’s greatest pride was always her family. She was blessed with four grandchildren—Jenna, Deanna, William, and Bella—and two great-granddaughters, Elena and Kathrine. She also lovingly welcomed her son-in-law, Gary; daughter-in-law, Sandy; and grandsons-in-law, Devin and Sam, as part of her family.

In 1992, her granddaughter Jenna gave her the nickname “Gaga,” and it became a name that would follow Carolyn for the rest of her life. She wasn’t just Gaga to her grandchildren—she was everyone’s Gaga. Their friends, her children’s adult friends, and even the nurses caring for her in her final days knew her by that special name.

Carolyn had a remarkable ability to make people feel loved and special. Her granddaughter Bella remembers that Gaga always had a little toy or trinket waiting for her and her brother William, even when they may not have deserved one. Every Halloween, Carolyn would walk through the neighborhood handing out her shiniest quarters to the children. Years later, Bella’s friends still remembered those “lucky quarters” and how special Gaga made them feel.

Carolyn was generous to a fault, always willing to help others and give whatever she could. She was strong, stubborn, feisty, funny, and full of love. She enjoyed making beautiful beaded Christmas ornaments, growing her beloved daylilies, going out to eat—especially for pasta and veal parmesan—and, of course, enjoying her favorite sweets.

She loved the simple beauty of life. She taught her children to love unconditionally, work hard, and always stop to look at the flowers. She loved pointing out beautiful leaves and flowers on car rides and finding animals in the clouds with her children when they were young.

Her family will forever cherish her strength, generosity, humor, love of flowers, and the countless memories she created. They will especially remember the little things—the gifts, the lucky quarters, the stories, the laughter, and the way she made everyone feel like family.

As Bella so perfectly said, “She was everyone’s Gaga… and hands down, she was the best Gaga anyone could ever have.”

Carolyn leaves behind a legacy of unconditional love that will live on through her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and everyone whose life she touched.