SALEM - Carolyn Burns Maloon, 86, of Salem, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2025, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late Laurence and Helen (Sullivan) Burns. A graduate of Swampscott High School and Emmanuel College, Carolyn married the love of her life, William Gifford Maloon, in 1962. They settled in Salem, where they raised their family and recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.

Carolyn earned her degree from Emmanuel College in Boston in 1961 and began her career at Stone & Webster. She later served as the Textbook Manager at Salem State College for many years. She also worked in sales at the Peabody Essex Museum Gift Shop and as a clerk and decorator in several retail stores throughout Salem. An active member of her community, Carolyn contributed to numerous local organizations. She was a dedicated member of the Salem League of Women Voters in her early years, as well as a long-time member of the Salem Garden Club and the Women's Friend Society.

An avid reader, Carolyn participated in several book clubs and deeply valued her connections with the Pickman Park community, her YMCA Zumba group, and, more recently, her Mah Jong club. She was fortunate to have a close-knit and wonderfully fun group of friends, and she found immense joy in traveling with them to places like Killington, North Conway, and Lake Ossipee. She also treasured weekends spent together at Salem Youth Soccer fields, holiday pool parties, children's parades, and tropical getaways to resorts and beaches. Still, Juniper Beach at the Salem Willows always held a special place in her heart.

Carolyn had a remarkable gift for connecting with people. Her sharp wit and genuine interest in others allowed her to strike up conversations with everyone she met—whether it was a close friend, a young medical intern, a market cashier, or the couple seated next to her at dinner. She had a unique ability to learn and remember people's stories, and THIS is what made her so welcoming, loving, accommodating, and deeply special.  No matter with whom she was speaking, they would inevitably hear about the one group of people whom she cherished above all else—her beloved family.

Carolyn leaves behind the heavy hearts of her dear husband Bill, and their four children, Alison Spurgeon and husband Scott of San Diego, and their children, Julia, Holly and Cat; Anne Mello and husband Joseph of Bedford, NH, and their children Sarah and Charlotte, Beth Coate and her husband Brian of Marblehead, and their children Eliza and Alex; Brad Maloon and wife Marlene of Salem, and their children Eva, Ana and Michael.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to attend Carolyn's funeral service which will be held at Immaculate Conception Church, 15 Hawthorne Blvd., Salem, MA on Friday, September 12th at 11 A.M. Interment is to follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. Visiting hours will be held at O'Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebration, 84 Washington Sq., (at Salem Common) SALEM on Thursday, September 11th from 4 to 6 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Carolyn's memory to the Salem Children's Charity at www.salemchildrenscharity.org. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.

Salem Children's Charity
P.O. Box 102, Salem MA 01970
Web: http://www.salemchildrenscharity.org/