Carolyn M. Sacuk

Carolyn M. Sacuk (nee Sikora) was born in All Souls Hospital, Morristown, NJ, in January 1927 and joined her brothers and parents in Boonton, NJ.  She lived nearly the entirety of her life in the confines of this town she loved, until she spent the last few months just over the line into Boonton Township at Victoria Mews, where she passed away peacefully on August 25, 2025

Carol is predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Jacob, parents, William J and Louise Sikora and her brothers Stanley and Dr. William P Sikora. Carolyn is survived by her daughters Cynthia Saul (Jeff), Claudia  (Glenn Drost), Claire Matlon (Jim), 6 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Educated in Boonton Public Schools, Carol graduated Boonton High in 1944 and took her commercial skills course to General Electric where she worked as a secretary.  There, at company-sponsored lunchtime dances, she met her husband.  Together they made great dancing partners, gliding across the dance floor with smooth steps commanding the attention of the room.

Carol often said she had a good life.  She was active before it was considered vogue.  In her youth she would walk uptown on most days.  Fondly she would recall her summers spent swimming in Deep Hole, canoeing on the Rockaway River, or playing tennis.  Hilary’s pond was a favorite ice skating spot in the winter.  Carol made it a point to have her daughters enjoy the same type of activities.  “Let’s go take a dip” was the rally call on many a summer’s day.  Walks in the Tourne or Grace Lord Park were a staple of a nice Sunday afternoon.

Carol loved to cook.  She began practicing her skills in the family’s chicken coop which served as her first pretend kitchen.  But more likely learned the craft from watching and helping her mother in the kitchen.  She cooked many delicious meals for family and friends.  The highlight was holiday meals which included many Polish specialties such as pierogi and kolache.  Even everyday meals were sumptuous and always balanced.  However, dessert was always available.

Carol was civically active in the Republican Club and worked over 50 years on the Election Board.  A devout Catholic, she was dutifully active in her parish, SS Cyril and Methodius where she received all her sacraments, and served on various committees throughout the years.  Her perfect alto voice was heard harmonizing from either the choir or congregation.  She was also a regular supporter and daily Mass attendee at Our Lady of Mt Carmel, until she could no longer drive.  Until its closure, Carol volunteered in the OLMC Thrift Shop along with her “shop” friends.

Carol was rarely idle.  The outdoors always beckoned no matter the season.  Carol could be found in her yard most days picking up sticks, weeding, trimming, raking and even shoveling snow.  She was very proud of her home and made it shine inside and out.  When she did take a break, she enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles.  Her favorite game and one which brought out her competitive streak was Scrabble.  She looked forward to weekly games and liked very much, to win.

As a product of the Great Depression and WWII era, Carol found many ways to save and was a recycler/conservationist, reusing bags and wrap, saving the water from the tap while it was getting hot, composting scraps, and not wasting anything. 

She had a great memory and could quote many poems she learned in her school days.  Her love of the Jersey Shore and yearly vacations there would elicit the lines from John Masefield’s Sea Fever.  “I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and sky…” But in a true sense she lived the words of Henry Van Dyke’s poem, Work.

…The work I did, and hold it not to call

It mine, or praise it, but to know that one

Has lived a blessed life, because he sold

His life and time to do the best he could

Thus with a quiet, and a contended mind,

He shall go to the grave, with love to find

The truth that “Work is love made visible”

And that is good.

Carol will be deeply missed, but oh so many memories she created will live on in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to SS Cyril and Methodius Church, 215 Hill St. Boonton, NJ 07005