Carol Talmage

Carol Marie (Burns) Talmage died at her home in Riverhead on Jan. 27, 2023. She was 90 years old.

She was born in Riverhead on May 15, 1932, to Eleanor (Galow) and William Burns.

She attended Riverhead schools and SUNY/Oneonta and SUNY/Cortland, earning a bachelor’s degree in education.

Carol married her high school sweetheart, John H. Talmage, at Riverhead United Methodist Church on June 28, 1952. John was in the Army and they were stationed in Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Bragg, N.C., before John served in Korea.

After his service, they returned to Friar’s Head Farm and raised a family of four children. She was a homemaker and a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Carol was a Brownie troop leader and a member of the Central Suffolk Hospital Women’s Auxiliary. She enjoyed singing and was a member of the Methodist church choir and the Baiting Hollow Congregational Church choir, and sang with other local choirs. She loved Baiting Hollow Congregational Church and in later days devoted time to the thrift shop and other church activities. She was also a member of the Riverhead Garden Club and Friends of Riverhead Free Library.

Predeceased by her husband of nearly 70 years on Feb. 14, 2022, she is survived by her children, Laura Talmage Goode, William Talmage and Ellen Talmage, all of Baiting Hollow, and Henry Talmage of Albany, N.Y.; by 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Roger Burns of Marco Island, Fla., and Douglas Burns of Riverhead.

The family will receive visitors Monday, Jan. 30, from 3 to 7 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Baiting Hollow Congregational Church, followed by interment at Baiting Hollow Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Baiting Hollow Congregational Church, Sound Avenue, Baiting Hollow NY 11933; East End Hospice; or Kent Animal Shelter.

The family will receive visitors Monday, Jan. 30, from 3 to 7 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Baiting Hollow Congregational Church, followed by interment at Baiting Hollow Cemetery. 

Memorial donations may be made to Kent Animal Shelter or East End Hospice.