Elizabeth T. ‘Lilly’ Carlstrom, 91
Elizabeth T. “Lilly” Carlstrom, 91, of Acton, died peacefully on August 4, 2025, at RiverCourt Residences in Groton. She was the wife of 45 years of the late David Carlstrom.
Lilly was born in Ruan, County Clare, Ireland, on April 11, 1934, the daughter of the late Joseph and Bridget “Delia” (Forbes) Hayes. Lilly grew up working on their farm and attended Ruan National School, St. Mary’s in Ennis, and later Ennis Vocational.
On May 30, 1953, at age 19, Lilly immigrated to the United States, settling in Boston with the family of her aunt Marian (Forbes) Duffy. Her first job was working at Schrafft’s soda fountain on West Street. She attended and received a diploma from Somerville High School.
Diploma in hand, Lilly moved into the insurance business, first working at John Hancock Mutual Insurance Co. and later selling travel insurance at Logan Airport. After returning home from a visit to Ireland, she found out her travel insurance employer had lost its concession. Fortunately, she quickly found work at the investment company Preston, Moss, and Co., where she worked for 10 years, making longtime friends.
Through this time, she lived in many parts of the Boston area, including Medford, Somerville, Brookline, and Jamaica Plain from the early 1950s to the late ’60s. While out dancing in Boston, she met her future husband, Dave, an Air Force officer completing a master’s degree at MIT. Upon graduation in 1969, he was sent to the Far East as part of the Vietnam War. After his return, Lilly and Dave were married on November 13, 1971, while visiting her family in Ruan.
This ended Lilly’s Boston chapter for the moment, as she became an Air Force wife, moving to Nebraska, where she worked for investment company Harris, Upsham, and Co. Eventually, she left work upon the arrival of her son Brian, which weeks later was followed by the first of many moves — to Norfolk, Virginia; Arlington, Virginia; Little Rock, Arkansas; Owings, Maryland; and Rome, New York — before retiring from Air Force life to Syracuse, New York. It was there that Lilly and Dave adopted their daughter Rachael. A few years later, the family returned to Acton to be closer to friends and family.
Lilly leaves behind her children Brian Carlstrom and his wife Jennifer of Los Altos Hills, California, and Rachael Carlstrom of Lunenburg; her grandchildren Michael, Daniel, Aster, Ashley, Audriana, and Anders; and her brother Joseph Hayes Jr., who is still living on the family farm in Ruan where her journey started. She was also the sister to the late Sister Mary Roberta Hayes, Kathleen Foudy, and Christina Duffy.
Family and friends will gather for visiting hours in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Acton, on Friday, August 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. Her funeral service will be held Saturday, August 16, at 10 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Holy Family Parish, 70 Monument Square, Acton, MA, 01742.Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Acton. To share a memory or offer a condolence on Lilly’s tribute page, visit DeeFuneralHome.com.
