Carolyn Mary (Rotella) Byrnes, 64, of Locust Valley, New York, passed away peacefully with family by her side, on May 25, 2025 after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer.  Carolyn is survived by her devoted husband of 39 years, Michael Byrnes, beloved daughter Jennifer, sons Christopher and Kevin, in addition to her loving sisters Nancy (Rotella) Aron and her husband Michael, and Susan Rotella. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ronald and Doris Rotella.  Carolyn will be greatly missed by her sisters-in-law Mary Byrnes, Lisa Frasier-Byrnes, and Linda King-Byrnes, and her brother-in-law Ray Byrnes and his wife Santa.  In addition she has a dozen much loved nieces and nephews. Carolyn is predeceased by her beloved brothers-in-law James and Daniel Byrnes.

Carolyn grew up in Massapequa, New York and attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School.  A 1978 graduate of Massapequa High School, Carolyn excelled in multiple sports as a member of the tennis, badminton, basketball and softball teams.  She received her Bachelor's degree in Business Management from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1982, and earned a Master's degree in Education from Adelphi in 1988.   Carolyn worked for several years in management at Blue Cross Blue Shield in New York City and then transitioned from business to education, enjoying her new role working with children as a teacher at St. Dominic's in Oyster Bay and then Mandalay Elementary School in Wantagh, NY until 1990. She then she devoted her time and energy into raising her children.

Carolyn's happy place was always spending vacations and days at the beach with family and friends, especially at TOBAY and Montauk.  She enjoyed playing tennis and golf and spending time with family and friends.  Carolyn loved planning family vacations and was never happier than being surrounded by her loved ones on some Caribbean Island.

Carolyn was a warm, kind, caring wife, mother, and friend to many bringing fun, love and light to all who knew and loved her.  She left us far too soon and will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 24th from 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm at the McClaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home in Glen Cove. A memorial mass will be held at 10 am on Wednesday June 25 at St. Gertrude's in Bayville with burial to follow at Locust Valley Cemetery.

Friends are invited to attend a celebration of her life and to share stories and tributes following the burial at the Byrnes home in Locust Valley.  Refreshments will be served.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Carolyn's name to ALK Positive, an advocacy and research group for ALK Positive lung cancer patients, a devastating disease with no known cause or cure that took our Carolyn much too soon. Alkpositive.org.