Carolyn Dana Pratt

Carolyn Dana (Shiarella) Pratt, of Santa Cruz, New Mexico, passed away at her home near Santa Cruz on June 6, 2026. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She attended Mount Saint Peter School in Natrona, Pennsylvia and graduated from Carlow University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

Dana worked at Gianotti Communications in New Kensington, CORMAR Telecommunications, Harts, Altmeyer’s, the Arnold Chamber of Commerce, and Whitaker House in New Kensington.

Dana was an active and cherished member of the Cheswick Christian Church in Cheswick, Pennsylvania. She was a singer in the choir at Mount Saint Peter’s and St. Mary of Czestochowa and was also a member of the Resurrection choirs. Her extraordinary talent included singing in six different languages. She also edited books for her friends, helping them bring their stories and ideas to life.

Living in New Mexico since 2004, she was a member of the White Rock Baptist Church where she sang on the Praise Team and volunteered for the reading of the scriptures. She also volunteered with the Manhattan Project National Historic Park in Los Alamos, and with the Rock Art Project of New Mexico.

Dana was a hobby farmer, orchardist, and avid photographer. She was an accomplished seamstress and quilter, and she loved to use her “tools” with DIY projects. She visited many historical and petroglyph sites in New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and Texas. She and her husband, John, traveled in their RV with friends and special RV groups. Their photography provided photo calendars for friends and relatives all over the world. They especially loved going to National Parks and the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.

She is survived by her husband, John C. Pratt of Santa Cruz, New Mexico, his brother Lindsay and Gay Pratt of Pinehurst, North Carolina, and brother-in-law Chris Andersen in Kona, Hawaii, the husband of her late sister, Joyce. Also, the next generation: John and Megan Pratt in Superior, Colorado, and Mary and Aaron Feldmeyer in Lutz, Florida, and her 6 grandchildren that were very special to her: Joshua, Sarah, Daniel, and Nathan Feldmeyer; Addison and Andrew Pratt. She is also survived by her “Outlaws”, as she called her “in-laws”, April and Mark Feldmeyer, Alexa Burns, and Otasha Rivers.