Carole A. Forlenza, age 81 of Columbus, NJ, surrounded and embraced with loving hugs, kisses, and words of assurance by her loving husband James and son Sean, passed away on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly, NJ. She was born in Elizabeth, NJ on December 17, 1944 to Nick and Carmina Riccardi. Carole worked for AT&T as an operator for over 25 years, then for RWJ University Hospital in Hamilton as an operator for 15 years, as well as the noble pursuit of babysitting. Carole loved to travel with her husband James locally to the Jersey shore, including trips to Spring Lake, NJ and Atlantic City, NJ, as well as traveling internationally to England and Holland. Carole loved her circle of friends at AT&T and they interacted with each through the decades as a sisterhood. Carole was predeceased by her parents, Nick and Carmina, her sister Deloris, and her brother Thomas. Carole is survived by her loving husband James, her dear son Sean, and her estranged sister Gloria. Finally, James and Carole's love for each other will live on similar to the love that the characters Marius and Cosette had for each other as memorialized in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables: "They saw each other; and, like the stars in the sky separated by millions of leagues, they lived by gazing upon each other." Funeral arrangements are being held at the convenience of the family. All arrangements are under the direction of Tilghman Funeral Home located in New Egypt, NJ.