Roberta Carol Martell
Roberta Carol Martell passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. She was 90 years old. A celebration of her life will be held at noon on Jan. 4, 2025 at the Episcopal Church on Brentwood Street in Tupper Lake. The Rev. Patty Beauharnois will officiate the funeral mass.
Carol was born in Syracuse on Dec. 23, 1933 to parents Ben and Evelene (Peo) Schryver. She attended Tupper Lake schools and graduated from high school in 1951; she would go on to receive her nursing degree from St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City, now known as Mount Sinai Morningside.
As a registered nurse, Carol worked for 25 years at Sunmount DDSO in Tupper Lake and was an avid snowmobiler, gardener, bowler and even played softball as the “short fielder.” As a child, Carol always wanted to be a vet and raise horses; however, her mother said “no” to the idea of becoming a veterinarian, so she became a nurse instead and eventually fulfilled her childhood dream of owning horses.
Carol was also a pro at knitting. Aside from creating hats and mittens out of yarn, she was most famous for her hand-crafted Christmas stockings! She was also a supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project, animal shelters and the Saranac Lake area’s Life Flight.
Carol is survived by her children, Kathy Bly, Debbie (Richard) Schmidt and John (Carrie) Schryver; grandchildren Cory (Breanna) LaQuay, Jeffrey (Mckenzie) LaQuay, Brittany Ryan, Carol (Michael) Lettero, Richard (Mariana) Schmidt, Tiffany (Nicholas) Burckhardt; and several great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by both of her parents, Ben and Evelene, her husband Richard, son James Rowan and son-in-law Jeffrey Bly.
There will be a luncheon reception celebrating Carol’s life directly following the mass at the St. Thomas Parish Hall. If you would like to donate in Carol’s memory, the family has asked that you send your support to the Tri-Lakes Humane Society and the North Country Life Flight, Inc — both are in Saranac Lake.