Carlyn N. Hudak

Branchville - Carlyn Hudak died peacefully Friday evening March 29, 2024 surrounded by her family. She was born June 24, 1945 in Weehawken, New Jersey and grew up in Jersey City.
During her senior year in high school, she was selected Miss Dickinson and then went on to attend Montclair State University where she met her husband, Tom.
Tom and Carlyn were married on August 9, 1969. They first lived in West Paterson, NJ and then bought a home in Oak Ridge where they started a family welcoming first son, Thomas, Jr. and then David. The family moved to Branchville in 1985.
After graduating from Montclair State University, she started a career as a home economics teacher. She taught students in various learning environments; such as Snyder High School in Jersey City, Learning Land Preschool in Oak Ridge, Centenary College in Hackettstown, Morris Hills Regional Adult School in Rockaway, and one-on-one lessons in her home and community.
Carlyn was an avid sewer, knitter, and crocheter. She took great pride in sharing and carrying her talent over to lovingly teach her niece and granddaughters the art of sewing. She was an active member of the American Sewing Guild, Sussex County Chapter and in her community as she took part in many endeavors such as Project Linus. She was an incredibly strong believer in her faith and an active parishioner at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Hamburg, New Jersey, leading the weekly Bible study.
Carlyn and Tom enjoyed traveling and vacationing with their family, especially at their beach home in Swan Beach, NC. Tom and Carlyn spent most of their summers there after retiring in 2000. Her grandchildren enjoyed spending their days at the beach and evenings watching "Grandma's shows" - Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.
She liked to read, complete jigsaw and crossword puzzles, and play any board or card game – her favorite game was Scrabble.
She was predeceased by her parents, Karsten and Elvera Kahrs; brother, Richard Kahrs, and son; Paul Thomas Hudak.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas Hudak; sons, Thomas Hudak, Jr. and his wife, Michele, David Hudak and his wife, Catherine; five grandchildren, Kayla, Leo, Caroline, Ryan, and Emily; her sister, Ellen Frederickson and her husband Charles; her niece, Sharon Petershack; nephew, Steven Kierney; her grandniece, Ella; and grandnephews, Wesley and Parker.
A visitation will be held at Pinkel Funeral Home, 31 Bank Street (Route 23), Sussex, NJ from 4 p.m to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2024. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3320 Route 94, Hamburg, NJ on Friday April 5, 2024. Interment to immediately follow at Frankford Plains Cemetery, Plains Road, Augusta.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Carlyn's memory to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3320 NJ Route 94, Hamburg, NJ 07419 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38015. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.pinkelfuneralhome.com