Carolyn House Ferguson, 78, passed away on November 15, 2023, after a heroic, lengthy health
battle. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and cousin and now is reunited
with her husband, Bruce Ferguson, who predeceased her. A memorial service will be held on
Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Glen Ridge Congregational Church with an
interment following in the Spring of 2024 in the Church's "Garden of Memory." In the last
weeks of her life, Carolyn defied all medical odds and expectations by returning to her home
where she was happiest.

Carolyn was born in Vandalia, Illinois on Feb. 9 th , 1945, and was the first of three children of the
late Helen and William House. Carolyn attended the University of Illinois Experimental High
School Class of 1963, and then graduated from The University of Illinois with a B.A. in English in
1967. Her family had extensive roots in Southern Illinois as corn and soy farmers and she
remained deeply proud of her "Illinois farm girl" identity. Indeed she remained a proud owner
of one of her family's Illinois' farms throughout her life.

After college, she moved to New York City where she began her career in journalism as a
researcher for CBS in 1968. It was there, during a fortuitous company softball game, that she
met her future husband of 42 years, Bruce. They were married atop Mount Greylock in the New
England Berkshires in 1971. Along with other pioneering feminists of the early 70s, Carolyn
defied the glass ceiling by working her way up the ranks at CBS eventually becoming an
Executive Producer of "CBS Morning News." She produced for Diane Sawyer, Dan Rather, and
Charlie Osgood until retiring in 1984 to raise her two daughters in Glen Ridge, NJ.

Carolyn was an avid gardener, an expert home chef, a creative and gregarious entertainer and
always deeply connected to her family and community. She gave of her time and energy in all
facets of her daughter's lives from leading Girl Scout troops to organizing church youth groups.
Her strong dedication to community and service to others led her to a second act of tireless
volunteerism as an EMT with the Glen Ridge Volunteer Ambulance Squad. She later became
Captain of the squad, then followed this by becoming Glen Ridge Police Commissioner and a
Glen Ridge Town Councilwoman. And she managed to extend her love of journalism by helping
to found the town's newspaper "The Glen Ridge Voice."

Carolyn is survived by her daughters Alissa Phillips and Blythe Emigholz; her six grandchildren:
Munro (17), Teagan (16), and Hunsley Phillips (11), and Isla (13), Stellan (9), and Everett (7)
Emigholz; her sister, Carla Johnston, her aunt Norma Elet, and cousin Yvonne Spitzer. Although
we grieve her passing, Carolyn's determination and strength will always be an inspiration and
blessing to us all. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be sent to the Glen Ridge
Volunteer Ambulance Squad - https://www.grvas.org/donate.