Carolyn (Elser) Monahan

Carolyn (Elser) Monahan, beloved mother, grandmother and sister, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2025, at the age of 89.  She was born on November 13, 1935, in Rochester, NY.  After graduating from the University of Rochester, Carolyn moved to Rockland County, NY to pursue a career as a paralegal in family law and eventually retired in Tucson, AZ.

Carolyn was always “on the go”.  She had a passion for swimming, tennis, white water rafting, singing, gardening and travelling.  She loved talking to new people during her many domestic and international trips.  Her sense of adventure and warm smile touched the lives of everyone she met.

She was preceded in death by her loving parents, William and Edna Elser, and her dear brothers, William and Raymond Elser.  She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kerry and Marco Racanelli, her grandsons, Tyler and Alexander Racanelli, her sister, Edna Coleman and several cousins.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on in the spring of 2026 at James R. Gray Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Blood Cancer United, an organization that provided tremendous support to her throughout her battle with leukemia.

Her memory will forever be a blessing to her family and friends.

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