Carolyn J. VanAlstyne

Carolyn J. VanAlstyne, age 80, of Dover, passed away Monday, April 22, 2025, in Dover’s Park Village Health Care Center, with her loving family at her side.

Born on November 4, 1944, in Roswell, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Alma (Simonetti) Bongini. Carolyn attended St. Mary High School in Dennison, and, after a family move, graduated from St. Joseph High School in Dover. She married Larry A. VanAlstyne on June 18, 1966; the couple had two daughters and shared nearly 45 years of marriage prior to Larry’s passing on September 27, 2011. Carolyn was employed by Miller Studio and AAMCO, both of New Philadelphia, and also babysat for many years.

She was a member of St. Joseph Church in Dover, and the church’s LCBA. Carolyn was a great fan of the Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School Saints as well as the Notre Dame University Fighting Irish. She also served on the Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival Committee.

Carolyn will be dearly missed by her daughters, Lorie VanAlstyne of Dover, and Janet (Jeff) Ferrell of Sherrodsville; her grandchildren, Madison and Brody Ferrell; her sister, Theresa Burtscher of Dover; her sister-in-law, Joanne VanAlstyne, also of Dover; and her nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Larry, Carolyn was preceded in death by her brother, Eugene Bongini; and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John Burtscher, Bill Shroyer, Elnor VanAlstyne, Walt VanAlstyne, Jean Tyson, Betty Heintz, June Fanti and Sandy Bongini.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover on Saturday, April 26, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., in St. Joseph Church; Fr. Jimmy Hatfield will officiate. Interment will be in St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery. Following the committal, there will be a lunch in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard in Dover.

Instead of flowers, contributions in Carolyn’s memory may be made to St. Joseph Church, 613 N. Tuscarawas Ave., or Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary School, 600 N. Tuscarawas Ave., both addresses at Dover, Ohio 44622.