Alleen Carson, 81 of Holland, Michigan passed on October 10th, 2025 surrounded by her family following a quiet but brave fight against an aggressive cancer.
Alleen was born in Detroit Michigan on June 25th, 1944, to Alfred and Kathleen Trongo, both of whom preceded her in death in 2002 and 2020 respectively. She attended Our Lady Gate of Heaven Grammar School, then attended Rosary High School, graduating in 1962. She attended Henry Ford Community College, where shorty thereafter she met her “Plymouth Neighborhood Gang”, becoming fast friends while living together in an apartment in Plymouth, Michigan. Her first professional position was with Consumer’s Energy where she was employed as Customer Service Representative. Through mutual friends she met the love of her life Carl Carson in 1964, and they were married in 1967. Carl worked for American Airlines at the time, and the two traveled extensively.
The pair moved back to Detroit from Plymouth and resided in a home handed down by her grandmother; remaining in Detroit while Carl finished his Bachelor’s Degree at Cleary University. Her younger sister Karen Zaleski (Trongo) came to live with her older sister and her brother in-law during this time as their parents (Alfred and Kathleen) began to travel the America’s as members of the Wally Byam Airstream Club upon Alfred’s retirement.
In 1972 following a career change by Carl, Alleen and Carl moved to Belding, Michigan, where they joined the local Jaycees making many close friends in the years that would follow. In 1974, they built a home on Oakcrest Drive, across from Half-Mile Lake in neighboring Greenville. Here they started their family with their first son, James Carson, born on October 9th, 1975, and then four years later they welcomed there second son, Robert Carson on May, 1st, 1979. The family celebrated many events, traveled and made life-long family friends, prior to moving to the Holland area, and specifically to the Holland Heights Neighborhood in 1984.
It is in this tight knit Holland Heights Neighborhood near Country Club Rd. that Carl and Alleen would make their permanent home and raise their boys. Alleen Carson was employed during the early Holland Years by the March of Dimes, and then would find her true passion as a Reading Specialist with the Holland Public School System, spending most of her teaching career at Holland Heights Elementary School.
Her passion for teaching, was an extension of her desire to help others, particularly children. She spent a life of servitude to her community, volunteering at various events, programs and activities across the Holland area. She was a generous soul and approached others with kindness and empathy, always carrying through with thoughtful actions and support.
She remained in the Holland Heights neighborhood for over 40 years, observing generations of neighborhood children and their families experience the same pleasure of growing up in the shared community, that she and Carl had afforded their family. The neighbors would become close friends as time passed. During retirement Alleen traveled extensively with her sister Karen Zaleski. Adventures were numerous with continents and countries explored and well documented by the many photos they took and the humorous and delightful stories they shared. They both particularly had a soft spot for cruises and planned trips based on location and the ability to travel by different ships of the cruise fleets.
Alleen had a tremendous love for her grandchildren Kate and Olivia, Daughters of Jim and Megan Carson, and Karah and Ethan daughter and son of Rob and Charity Carson. She was present throughout her grandchildren’s lives serving as nanny, attending dance recitals, plays and musicals, sports events, vacationing with her children and grandchildren, and hosting many holiday events and parties that brought the family together. Her grandchildren were her greatest joy and she was at her happiest in their presence, with her wishes for them of a lifetime of enjoyment and personal success to be defined individually by each of them.
Alleen was preceded in death by her husband Carl Carson in 1998. Her devotion to her family was only further solidified through the support, strength and care she afforded her family following her husband’s death.
Alleen is survived by her son and daughter in-law Jim and Megan Carson and their children Kate and Olivia, son and daughter in-law Rob and Charity Carson and their children Karah and Ethan, sister Karen Zaleski and her daughter and son in-law Melanie and Brandon Spence.
A Celebration of Life is planned for Friday, October 24th, 2025, at Dykstra Funeral Home – Mulder Chapel located at 188 32nd St. Holland, Michigan 49423. Visitation will begin at 10am, with an 11am service to follow, with a lunch immediately after the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Holland Heights Elementary School Teachers Fund, to help provide funds for students school supplies.
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