Carlene DeMaso

Carlene Iola Burlingame DeMaso, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, genealogist, and avid reader passed peacefully in Highland, Utah.

Carlene was born on April 24, 1931, in Battle Creek, Michigan, to Stedman Isaac Burlingame and Ina Mae Lybarger. She attended Prarieview Elementary School, Lakeview Junior High School, and graduated from Lakeview High School, class of 1949. Carlene was a life-long learner. She attended classes at Michigan State University, Kellogg Community College, and various community education programs.

Carlene loved music, took piano lessons, and sang in school and church choirs. She was also a cheerleader at Lakeview High School. During her senior year she met and fell in love with Alfred DeMaso, one of the stars of the basketball team. Even though they knew they might be separated with the approaching Korean War, Carlene and Alfred were married on August 26, 1950, in the First Congregational Church, in Battle Creek, Michigan. Not long after, Alfred was called to serve in the US Army and was deployed to Germany for eighteen months. In November 1952, Carlene traveled to Germany aboard the SS America and spent nine months with Alfred. During their time in Germany, she and Al traveled to Austria, France, Czechoslovakia, Holland, and Italy, where they visited Alfred's relatives in the Dolomite Alps of Northern Italy. She returned to the United States in July 1953.

After Al was discharged in 1954, Alfred and Carlene bought their first home in Springfield, Michigan, where they lived for sixty-six years and where they raised four children. Over the years, they visited all but one of the US states. During the decade of the 1990s, they travelled to England, China, Russia, and Italy. In late 2020, due to declining health, they moved to Highland, Utah, to be near family.

Carlene's work experience included stock girl at a dress shop, soda fountain worker at a drug store, receptionist for a CPA, secretary at Wolverine Insurance Company, and at Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Company. She was employed by the city of Springfield for seventeen years as Clerk, Treasurer, and Income Tax Administrator.

In 1960, Carlene joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Alfred joined thirteen years later. She and Alfred, along with their children, were sealed in the Washington D.C. Temple, on May 30, 1975. Carlene was an active member of the Church, and served in various callings in the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society organizations. She was passionate about temple work and family history, and especially enjoyed serving as a temple worker in the Chicago Temple. Carlene found great joy as mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, and traveled with Alfred cross-country many times to visit and support family members in their many activities.

Carlene was preceded in death by her husband of seventy-one years, Alfred DeMaso. She is survived by her children: Paula (Steven) Bule, American Fork, Utah; Gregg (Danielle) DeMaso, Gallitin, Tennessee; Brad (Michelle) DeMaso, El Dorado Hills, California; Carla (Andrew) Johnson, Issaquah, Washington; 16 grandchildren, one step-grandson, and 34 great-grandchildren. Her legacy of love, loyalty, and service will endure for generations.

Funeral services will take place on Friday, November 7, 2025, 11:30 am, in the American Fork 21st Ward Chapel, 270 N 900 E, American Fork, Utah 84003. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 10:30 am to 11:15 am, in the Relief Society Room. Internment will follow at Highland City Cemetery (6200 W 11000 N, Highland, Utah 84004).

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Highland Glen Assisted Living Facility and Serenity Hospice of Utah.