Carol M Kielbus

Carol M. Kielbus, age 73, of Clark, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she was the youngest of eight children, with five older sisters and two older brothers. Raised in Harrison, she graduated from Harrison High School in the class of 1970.

An active and determined young woman, Carol frequently traveled to the mountains to ski and toboggan, mostly in the Poconos. She was also an avid runner, often seen running through the streets of Harrison during the 1970s and 1980s. On March 9, 1983, she met her future husband, Robert Kielbus, at Dunn’s Garage in Roselle Park, New Jersey. They married on September 29, 1984, and settled in Roselle before moving to Clark to raise their family. Together they had two children and later adopted a baby girl from China, fulfilling a long-held dream of adoption.

Carol’s greatest passion was caring for others. While navigating the adoption process and raising her first two young children, she put herself through nursing school. She realized her dream of becoming a nurse and spent more than 25 years in healthcare, primarily at Children’s Specialized Hospital, where she found deep fulfillment. Before her nursing career, she worked at Mutual Benefit Life Insurance and, with Robert, ran a DJ business called Good Vibrations on weekends.

Carol was known as a fighter who pursued her goals with determination. She cherished time at the shore, created countless family memories at their beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and on road trips to Disney World. In recent years, she found special joy as “Ma” to her two granddaughters, Ophelia and Adelina. She is survived by her husband, Robert “Bob” Kielbus; her children, Bobby, Kathy, and Megan; her sons-in-law, Dean and Luca; and her beloved granddaughters. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she held dear.