Michaela Lee Carozza

Michaela Lee Carozza was born in Seattle, Washington, to Lee and Stephanie (Isenberg) Carozza. She entered this world four minutes after her identical twin sister Cara. The twins would not live long in the State of Washington. Their parents separated shortly after their birth and Lee moved to Carmel, California, to open a restaurant. Michaela and her sister would join him a few years later. Michaela loved being at her Dad’s Crepe Carmel restaurant at the Cypress Inn. There was no shortage of jobs to keep a young girl busy, but Michaela’s favorite one was hostess. She loved meeting the customers and telling them stories. She was a natural actress.

An opportunity on the other side of Monterey Bay would take the family to Soquel and a new restaurant in Capitola. Michaela and her sister attended the Montessori school in Capitola and Michaela’s love of story telling blossomed. A change in custody would bring Michaela and Cara back to the Monterey Peninsula where they would live with their mother Stephanie and step-father Richard in Pacific Grove for the remainder of their childhood. Stephanie worked at the Harrison Memorial Library in Carmel. Michaela developed a deep love of reading during this time of her life, often spending her after school hours at the library waiting for her mom to get off work.

Stephanie always kept Michaela and her sister busy during the summer months, enrolling them in camps and local theatre productions. Michaela’s abilities as an actress excelled and she would continue to participate in theatre productions all the way through high school. The camps which frequently were sleep over camps, sparked a life-long love affair between Michaela and Mother Earth. Nature was her Church and she was a passionate recycler and composter as well as a gifted gardener.

After high school, Michaela would attend Fresno State University. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Fresno State. She began her career in Massachusetts where her fiancée had grown up. Her first job was at Analog Devices as a technical writer. She also wrote a novel and published a number of short stories. She was diligent about journaling, using it as part of her spiritual practice. She liked to write letters and her cards always included heartfelt sentiments. She was a talented writer.

Once her son Matthew arrived, she focused all her talents and passions into being a full-time Mom. Her children were her biggest joy and she loved them fiercely. Once Matthew and his sister Sarah became more independent, she sought out a part-time job. As luck would have it, a job was available at one of her favorite childhood places, the Harrison Memorial Library. She would work there in a number of positions for nearly 15 years. Her last position was in the children’s department. A job she described as her dream job.

Michaela also channeled her skills as a hostess into her own business, Valley Eden. Valley Eden was her and her partner Micha’s short-term rental on their property in Carmel Valley. If you ever had the privilege to stay at Valley Eden, then you have been blessed. It was a magical place and the hundreds of positive reviews it received testify to this. In addition to being excellent hosts, Michaela and Micha were parents to many fur babies of the feline persuasion.

Michaela is survived by her partner, Micha Bassett, her son Matthew Galley and daughter Sarah Galley, her mother and step-father Stephanie and Richard Pearce, her step-mother Linda Howe Garriz, her sister and brother in-law Cara Carozza and Richard Tripps, her niece Caroline Swartz and nephews Spencer Swartz, Richard Tripps and Andrew Tripps. She was predeceased in death by her father, Lee Carozza, AKA Lino Garriz. She will be missed terribly, but never forgotten and always remembered for her joy, kindness and beautiful spirit.

Donations in her memory can be made to Animal Friends Rescue Project.