Carol Lynne Mahoney Katzenstein

Olean- Carol Lynne Mahoney Katzenstein

After a brief, but courageous and intense battle against a plethora of illnesses that left her medical caregivers in awe of her resilience and will to live, Carol Mahoney Katzenstein passed peacefully on December 30th, 2025 in Pittsburgh. But not before she etched an enduring legacy on the lives of her family and on the healthcare landscape of Western New York.

Carol was born November 23rd, 1955, at Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Lackawanna, New York to Jack and Arline Mahoney of East Aurora, NY, who predeceased her. Carol’s brothers are John (Luci) Mahoney, the late Dr. Dennis (Sue) Mahoney, and Paul (Cindy) Mahoney.

On December 10th, 1983, she married her loving husband, Ira Katzenstein. They have one daughter, Elise Katzenstein Seslar (Richard), and two grandchildren, Lincoln and Lydia. Carol was thrilled to become a grandmother and loved them both beyond measure. She had a knack for sending them perfect trinkets when she couldn’t be with them – tiny reminders of grandma that they will cherish forever. She was also a loving aunt and great aunt. Family meant the world to her; every year she looked forward to the family reunion. Carol also adored dogs and had many throughout her life, including Peppy, Racho, Daisy, Olive, Pickles and Piper.

Carol is a 1972 graduate of Iroquois High School, where she graduated early to begin her bachelor’s degree in psychology at SUNY Fredonia and then SUNY Buffalo. Carol obtained her master’s degree in community counseling from Saint Bonaventure University.

Carol held many jobs within the healthcare realm. She worked at the West Seneca State Development Center, Planned Parenthood in Passaic County, New Jersey, and then spent many years with the Passaic County Comprehensive Employment and Training Administration (CETA) program. She also was part of a consulting company she founded with her husband.

However, her biggest professional accomplishment was the nearly forty years with Homecare & Hospice, now serving many WNY counties. Carol was pivotal in the founding of the hospice program.

Carol also started the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program to help seniors (55+) needing nursing home care stay in their homes by providing comprehensive medical and social services through a single team, as Total Senior Care. By her efforts in expanding Home Care, in being pivotal in launching Hospice, and the introduction of the PACE program, she irrevocably changed and increased the healthcare services in WNY for thousands of vulnerable people. That legacy will endure for generations to come.

Carol was recognized for her efforts through many awards, including being one of the first Health Care Leadership fellows with the Health Care Foundation of WNY. She was also recognized as a New York State Senate Woman of Distinction. Carol was honored with the L.O.U.I.E. award, the Chamber’s highest honor, and the Good News Award, also from the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Olean YMCA Salute to Olean award.

Carol’s community involvement didn’t stop after work hours. She served on the board of directors and volunteered for many organizations, including Southern Tier Health Care Systems, Olean General Hospital, Olean Chamber of Commerce, First Baptist Church in Olean, Genesis House, Interfaith Caregivers, NYS Association of Health Care Providers and the High Point Credit Union.

Carol enjoyed reading and writing, singing and playing guitar, and cheering on the Buffalo Bills. She loved to attend concerts with her husband and had a love for theatre. She was always up for the next adventure - whether that meant spending time with her grandchildren, traveling with Ira and friends, or camping. Carol had also recently added painting, gardening and playing the tin whistle to her always-expanding repertoire.

The mission statement of the organization she led for almost four decades is, “Today, make a difference.” Carol lived those words every day of her life.

“Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high. There’s a land that I heard of, once in a lullaby.”

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

A celebration of life will be held at a future date and time to be announced. Arrangements are in complete at this time and under the direction of the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc., 646 E. State St., Olean. A full obituary will be published. Online condolences may be made at www.letromcintoshspinkfuneralhome.com

Memorials may be made to Homecare & Hospice, 115 E. Main St., Allegany, NY 14706.