She will always be remembered - and will always be loved - May she rest in peace Elizabeth ('Betsy') Boerner Carlin, 69, of Holmdel passed away on Friday, November 25, 2011 at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank after a long and successful struggle with leukemia and a courageous battle with lung cancer. Her last days were spent peacefully with her family. Born on July 3, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, Betsy grew up in Chicago and Woodstock IL where her family operated a farm which provided underprivileged urban youth an opportunity to experience a more positive environment. She graduated from Woodstock High School in 1960. Betsy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964 from the University of Illinois, where she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She enjoyed dancing and was a featured dancer in the campus wide UI variety show. She met her husband, Jim, of 47 years while at the University of Illinois. In the early years of their marriage, career opportunities took the couple to Newport Beach, California and then to Branchburg, New Jersey before they settled in Holmdel, in 1974, where Betsy happily lived for over 37 years. She was a cheerful and happy homemaker, a devoted and loving wife and companion, and a wonderfully caring and proud mother and grandmother. Betsy loved family and friends and holidays in her home were a tradition and feast cherished by all. In years past, she was active in the Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and school PTAs. Betsy was also a creative and accomplished knitter and made many lovely Afghans, baby blankets, scarves, and sweaters for family and friends. In later years she enjoyed and looked forward to seeing her weekly bridge (conversation) group, monthly 'lunch bunch' gatherings and New Year's Eve dinners with close friends. She enjoyed family reunions and her preparations for them were as close to perfect as possible. Betsy was deeply touched by and grateful for all of her friends' support, love and prayers. In particular, she was thankful for her closest friend, Emily Dunn, who provided continuous friendship and love from their earliest days of raising babies together to the frequent uplifting calls and shopping trips over the past six months. She is survived by her husband Jim, by her son John and his wife Susan, by her daughter Michelle Carlin Green and her husband Jonathan, by her grandchildren Carly and Robin Green and Jaime Carlin, and by her brother David Boerner and wife Barbara of Enumclaw, WA. She is also survived by several beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and her sister/brothers in law and spouses Mary and Dan Gemoll of New Berlin WI, Frank and Barbara Carlin of West Hempstead TX, and Walter Carlin of Bradenton FL. Betsy was predeceased by her parents Bert Howard Boerner and Lela Boerner. Visitation will be on Tuesday, Nov. 29th from 2 – 4pm and 7 – 9pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel NJ. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday at 9:00am at St. Catharine's Church, 108 Middletown Road, Holmdel, NJ. Entombment will then follow at the Holmdel Cemetery Mausoleum. In lieu of sending flowers, the family would appreciate donations made in Elizabeth Carlin's memory to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, N.Y. Presbyterian Cancer Research – Leukemia and Myeloproliferative Disease Center, or the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Catharine's Church. Donation forms will be available at the Funeral Home.