Mary E. Carroll

Mary Elizabeth Carroll, 67, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2025, at her home in Sacramento, CA.

She was born in St. Paul, MN, in 1957 to Evelyn Carroll (née Eliseuson) and William Carroll. Mary Beth, as she was called then, moved with her family to California in 1965. Mary and her siblings—Catherine, Leslie, Tim, Michael, and Bill—remained close throughout their lives, and Carroll family gatherings were filled with laughter, stories, and the kind of festive joy that only comes from a big, loving family.

Mary studied Anthropology at American River College, and the Old Sacramento archaeological dig, where she made lifelong friends, became one of her favorite memories.

Sacramento is also where she met the love of her life, Michael. They were married in San Francisco in 1990 and built their life together there, enjoying each other’s company through it all.

Mary was a devoted mother to Elizabeth, always encouraging her curiosity. Her favorite response was “Good question! Why don’t you find out and write a report about that?”

Mary took pleasure in the simple things that brought family together—setting a beautiful table for holiday meals, enjoying a picnic with a scenic view, and taking a Sunday drive up or down the coast.

She was no stranger to the freeways of Northern California, traveling throughout the state to meet with schools as she built her career selling school uniforms for over 20 years. When she retired, she was more than happy to trade those long drives for more time at home in Sacramento.

But one of Mary’s favorite roles was that of grandmother. She treasured her time with Oliver and Eloise and loved being their “Mema,” never failing to put a treat in the cookie jar before their visits or sending them special back-to-school outfits.

Mary will always be remembered for her keen interior design eye and her thoughtful advice. She could always tell when someone needed support. Her interest in others came from genuine love—she wanted to understand everyone’s story.

We couldn’t have asked for a better wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Mary’s memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her.

Flowers may be sent to East Lawn, 4300 Folsom Boulevard Sacramento, CA 95819.

Services will be Private