1934
Carolyn
2015
Carolyn Nielsen Sedberry
December 14, 1934 — December 14, 2015
After a lengthy illness, Carolyn Nielsen Sedberry peacefully passed away on Monday December 14, 2015 to go celebrate her eternal "29th" birthday with her Lord Jesus and her loved ones in Heaven.
Born on December 14, 1934, in Albuquerque, Carolyn was a proud native New Mexican. She attended Manzano Day School, Highland High and Mount Vernon School in Washington DC. After starting at Vassar College, she graduated from UNM with a BS degree in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology with Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Sigma honors. She was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She attended the the University of Colorado Medical school for two years until she met and married the love of her life, Leland S Sedberry Jr, in 1959, and decided to raise her family.
Carolyn leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, devotion to family and zest for life. She is survived by her three boys and their families, Leland III, his wife Monette, their children, Chanel, Stan, and Chandler; Bob and his children Turner and Parker; John, his wife Aubrey, and their son Ridge; In-laws, Karin Nielsen and Ann and Jerry Ratcliff; favorite cousin, Mike Miller, his wife Money, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and loyal friends. She was preceded in death by parents, Emory and Barbara Nielsen; brother, Roger Nielsen; husband, Leland S Sedberry Jr.; and daughter-in-law, Tracy Sedberry (Bob).
She was a good wife, a great mother and an even greater grandmother. She was her sons and grandkids greatest sports fan, faithfully attending all of their sporting events from football to ski racing to soccer. She taught her family how to snow ski, play tennis, water ski, jet ski, and skinny dip. Her holiday dinners were epic, her gift giving extravagant, her constant optimism contagious. She spoiled her daughters-in-law and her grandchildren rotten. She passed on her love of the mountains, the water, philanthropy, being Danish, and traveling to her family.
She lived an active life playing tennis, snow skiing, water skiing, jet skiing and boating on lakes, and sailing on oceans. She traveled the world, hiking in Kenya for silverback gorillas, tracking killer whales off Puget Sound, Riding camels in Egypt, encountering Hippos and Crocs in Africa, walking the Great Wall of China, paragliding in Switzerland, and hiking in the Himalayas. Her favorite trips were taking her family to New York City for Thanksgiving, to the 2002 Winter Olympics, and cruising up the inland waterway in Florida to watch the Apollo 11 liftoff. She loved to entertain, hosting numerous parties in her beautiful backyard under her giant cottonwoods and around her pool.
Throughout her life, she was active as a member, volunteer, director, board member and supporter in over 35 civic and social organizations. She gave selflessly and generously. Junior League, Santa Fe Opera, Popejoy, Numerous Museums, UNM, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Friendship Force, Amistad, Eating Out Again, you name it she was involved. Her proudest moments were being the director of the NM Arts and Crafts Fair in the early years, working for Mayor Harry Kinney as the Director of the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, cub scout den mother, and obtaining bicentennial funding for Sid Cutter to start the first Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. She absolutely loved the Balloon Fiesta.
Carolyn had a delightful sense of humor, loved a good joke and was known for giving dirty, but funny birthday cards. She lived with style and grace and touched the lives of many with her warmth, generosity and passion for life. She will be greatly, greatly missed.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, December 28, 2015, 1:00 p.m., at Hoffmantown Baptist Church, 8888 Harper NE, Albuquerque, NM. A reception will follow at Tanoan Country Club.
She was a proud zoo parent of Hippos, Karen, Moe and their baby. The production of "Les Miserables" always brought her to tears. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to the Albuquerque Zoo to support the hippo exhibit, or to Popejoy Hall.
Born on December 14, 1934, in Albuquerque, Carolyn was a proud native New Mexican. She attended Manzano Day School, Highland High and Mount Vernon School in Washington DC. After starting at Vassar College, she graduated from UNM with a BS degree in Chemistry, Biology and Psychology with Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Sigma honors. She was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She attended the the University of Colorado Medical school for two years until she met and married the love of her life, Leland S Sedberry Jr, in 1959, and decided to raise her family.
Carolyn leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, devotion to family and zest for life. She is survived by her three boys and their families, Leland III, his wife Monette, their children, Chanel, Stan, and Chandler; Bob and his children Turner and Parker; John, his wife Aubrey, and their son Ridge; In-laws, Karin Nielsen and Ann and Jerry Ratcliff; favorite cousin, Mike Miller, his wife Money, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and loyal friends. She was preceded in death by parents, Emory and Barbara Nielsen; brother, Roger Nielsen; husband, Leland S Sedberry Jr.; and daughter-in-law, Tracy Sedberry (Bob).
She was a good wife, a great mother and an even greater grandmother. She was her sons and grandkids greatest sports fan, faithfully attending all of their sporting events from football to ski racing to soccer. She taught her family how to snow ski, play tennis, water ski, jet ski, and skinny dip. Her holiday dinners were epic, her gift giving extravagant, her constant optimism contagious. She spoiled her daughters-in-law and her grandchildren rotten. She passed on her love of the mountains, the water, philanthropy, being Danish, and traveling to her family.
She lived an active life playing tennis, snow skiing, water skiing, jet skiing and boating on lakes, and sailing on oceans. She traveled the world, hiking in Kenya for silverback gorillas, tracking killer whales off Puget Sound, Riding camels in Egypt, encountering Hippos and Crocs in Africa, walking the Great Wall of China, paragliding in Switzerland, and hiking in the Himalayas. Her favorite trips were taking her family to New York City for Thanksgiving, to the 2002 Winter Olympics, and cruising up the inland waterway in Florida to watch the Apollo 11 liftoff. She loved to entertain, hosting numerous parties in her beautiful backyard under her giant cottonwoods and around her pool.
Throughout her life, she was active as a member, volunteer, director, board member and supporter in over 35 civic and social organizations. She gave selflessly and generously. Junior League, Santa Fe Opera, Popejoy, Numerous Museums, UNM, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Friendship Force, Amistad, Eating Out Again, you name it she was involved. Her proudest moments were being the director of the NM Arts and Crafts Fair in the early years, working for Mayor Harry Kinney as the Director of the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, cub scout den mother, and obtaining bicentennial funding for Sid Cutter to start the first Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. She absolutely loved the Balloon Fiesta.
Carolyn had a delightful sense of humor, loved a good joke and was known for giving dirty, but funny birthday cards. She lived with style and grace and touched the lives of many with her warmth, generosity and passion for life. She will be greatly, greatly missed.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, December 28, 2015, 1:00 p.m., at Hoffmantown Baptist Church, 8888 Harper NE, Albuquerque, NM. A reception will follow at Tanoan Country Club.
She was a proud zoo parent of Hippos, Karen, Moe and their baby. The production of "Les Miserables" always brought her to tears. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to the Albuquerque Zoo to support the hippo exhibit, or to Popejoy Hall.
Service Details
Monday, December 28th, 2015, 1:00pm, Hoffmantown Church
To send flowers to the family in memory of Carolyn Nielsen Sedberry, please visit our flower store.