Elizabeth T. "Lilly" Carlstrom, age 91, of Concord, MA, died peacefully on August 4th, 2025, at RiverCourt Residences in Groton. She was the wife of 45 years of the late David Carlstrom.

Lilly was born in Ruan, County Clare, Ireland on April 11, 1934, the daughter of the late Joseph and Bridget "Delia" (Forbes) Hayes. Lilly grew up working on their farm and attended Ruan National School, St. Mary's in Ennis, and later Ennis Vocational.

On May 30, 1953 at the age of 19, Lilly immigrated to the United States, settling in Boston with the family of her aunt Marian (Forbes) Duffy. Her first job was working at Schrafft's soda fountain on West Street. She attended and received a diploma from Somerville High.

Diploma in hand, Lilly moved into the insurance business, first working at John Hancock Mutual Insurance Co. and later selling travel insurance at Logan. After returning home from a visit to Ireland, she found her travel insurance employer had lost its concession. Fortunately, she quickly found work at the investment company Preston, Moss, and Company where she worked for ten years, making longtime friends.

Through this time, she lived in many parts of the Boston area including Medford, Somerville, Brookline, and Jamaica Plain from the early 50s to the late 60s. It was at that point that while out dancing in Boston that she would meet her future husband Dave, an Air Force officer completing a masters degree at MIT. Upon graduation in 1969, he was sent to the far east as part of the Vietnam War. After his return, Lilly and Dave were married on November 13, 1971, while on a visit to her family in Ruan.

This ended Lilly's Boston chapter for the moment, as she became an Air Force wife, moving to Nebraska, where she worked for investment company Harris, Upsham, and Company. Eventually, she left work on the arrival of her son Brian, which weeks later was followed by the first of many moves to Norfolk, VA, Arlington, VA, Little Rock, AR, Owings, MD, Rome, NY, before retiring from Air Force life to Syracuse, NY. It was here Lilly and Dave adopted their daughter Rachael. Eventually a few years later, the family returned to Concord to be closer to friends and family.

Lilly leaves behind her children, Brian Carlstrom and his wife Jennifer of Los Altos Hills, CA and Rachael Carlstrom of Lunenburg, her grandchildren, Michael, Daniel, Aster, Ashley, Audriana, and Anders, and her brother Joseph Hayes, Jr, who is still living on the family farm in Ruan, County Clare, Ireland where her journey started. She was also the sister to the late Sr. Mary Roberta Hayes, Kathleen Foudy, and Christina Duffy.

Family and friends will gather for visiting hours in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center on Friday, August 15th from 6 to 9 pm. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 16th at 10 am in the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Concord.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Holy Family Parish , 70 Monument Square, Concord, MA, 01742.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.