NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  Marilyn T. (Gallese) “Cookie” Carlson, 88 of Hopkinton, MA died Wednesday October 7, 2026 at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

She was born in North Adams, MA on January 23, 1938, a daughter of the late Alfred F. Gallese and Evelyn T. (Peters) Gallese. She graduated from the former St. Joseph’s High School and North Adams State College. Cookie also attended St. Joseph’s Business School in Bennington, VT and received her master’s degree from Clark University.

In her younger years, Cookie worked at the Williams Inn and Williams College, and was a feature writer for the Framingham News. She worked as an interior designer and later in life, enjoyed working with her husband. She was a communicant of the former St. Francis of Assisi Church. Cookie enjoyed crossword puzzles and reading and swam daily at her local YMCA. She enjoyed spending time at the Worcester Museum.

Survivors include her husband, Roger Carlson, whom she married in 1967, one daughter, Miranda Kate Carlson-Senecal of Springfield, MO and two grandchildren, Davin Evans and Ariana Senecal. She also leaves two sisters, Diane Gallese Parsons of Adams, MA and Leslie Gallese Schmidt of Greenfield, MA and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by two brothers, Roger Gallese and Alfred “Butch” Gallese Jr.

FUNERAL NOTICE: A memorial service for Marilyn (Gallese) “Cookie” Carlson will be held Sunday October 11, 2026 at 2:00 PM at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, CENTRAL CHAPEL, 74 Marshall St. North Adams, MA. Burial will be private. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com