LAKE GEORGE -

It is with deep love and profound sadness that we announce the passing of an extraordinary woman. Having witnessed nearly a century, our beloved matriarch, Erma Carte, 97, peacefully entered into eternal rest on March 22, 2026 at her home in Lake George surrounded by family and friends who loved her dearly. She was truly one of a kind and her absence leaves a space that cannot be filled. She was resilient to her core and strong in the ways that mattered.

Erma was born in Plattsburgh, New York on April 27, 1928, the daughter of the late Earl R. and Bertha (Edgley) Cook. She was the youngest of their three children, and was raised by her mother and her step-father, Frederick Brown, "Brownie". She graduated from Plattsburgh High School and worked for Clare and Carl's Hot Dog Stand in Plattsburgh where she met her future husband, Clyde Carte. He had just returned from serving in WW II and, after a year of dating, they married on July 31, 1947 in a small ceremony. She was a young bride and, after working briefly as a typist for a lawyer, they started their family. They had seven children over the next 18 years and, to Erma and Clyde, their station wagon full of children was their life. Initially, they lived in Peru, New York, moving the family to the Glens Falls/Hudson Falls area in 1962.

Erma enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking, visiting extended family, camping, swimming, ice skating, bowling, volunteering with the Rosary Altar Society at St. Mary's Church in Hudson Falls and later serving at community dinners with Sacred Heart Church in Lake George. She also enjoyed seeing other parts of the country, frequently driving down to Florida in the winter to spend a month escaping the cold and snow. She also traveled to Hawaii, the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, Arizona, the Grand Canyon, California, Texas, Cape Cod, Maine, and Prince Edward Island. One road trip took her from Colorado to Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, across the Canadian Rockies, and across several Canadian provinces back to New York State and her beloved Lake George. While not a big fan of flying, she did it when necessary!

Erma always enjoyed being a part of her children's lives and was very thrilled that they all eventually settled close to "home". She was very proud of her sons when they first started The Wood Carte furniture store in Queensbury in 1982. She was even employed at The Wood Carte for a time, although she tended to come to work "on her own schedule"!

In 1984 the family purchased a camp on Assembly Point in Lake George. The whole family worked on the property and the little house to make it comfortable. To Erma, it was truly a dream come true to be living on the lake, and she always marveled and felt very blessed when she looked out at the view of Cleverdale and Pilot Knob from her kitchen and porch windows! In 1995, the small camp was replaced with a year round home and Erma and Clyde moved permanently from Hudson Falls to Lake George. After Clyde passed away in 1998, Erma remained at the house on Assembly Point and continued to enjoy many large family get-togethers at "camp".

Erma was an inspiration to many people who lived on and visited Assembly Point. She walked around "her" block twice a day as often as she could, in later years with her cane and walker. Even in the winter, she would be seen all "bundled up" with her bright blue coat, hat, scarf and battery heated mittens. In fact, she often challenged her care companions to go with her, even if it was "a little chilly"!

Erma was pre-deceased by her husband, Clyde; her sons, Kelly and Lindsay; her sister, Thelma Jutras; and her brother, Earl Cook. She is survived by five of her children and their spouses; Cindy and Mike Freebern, Dawn and Andy Pliscofsky, Kathy and Tim Bechard, Chris and Lori Carte, Lisa and John Wilkerson, two daughters-in-law, Carol Beaudin and Patti Carte, 24 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Also left to carry on her memory are all her dear friends on "the point" including Lucille, Arlene, Carol, Kathy and Mary Pat.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude and love to the many devoted and compassionate care companions that loved and helped care for Erma over the last eight years including Joyce, Melissa, Erma's granddaughter, Olivia and many others. They would also like to thank all the staff at High Peaks Hospice for their invaluable assistance over the last six months.

Arrangements will be made at the convenience of the family. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family, online at: SimpleChoicesCremation.com

In her honor, Erma would smile upon you planting a perennial in your yard to be enjoyed in the future while remembering her.