Carrine Anne Livingston

Celebrating the Life of Carrine Anne Livingston

We gather today to celebrate and honor the life of Carrine Anne Livingston. We knew her in many different roles, mother, sister, cousin, aunt, niece, grandmother, mentor, and friend. As her stepdaughter, I am deeply honored to stand before you today to share our memories and reflections of this remarkable woman.

Carrine Anne Livingston was born on February 21, 1961, in Lewis Store, Saint Mary, Jamaica. Carrine was the daughter of Iris Dean and Willfred “Loggie” Livingston, and the fourth of five siblings. She is survived by her sisters, Beverly Grant, Antoinette Mills (Marva), and Felicia Livingston (Little Miss) and was predeceased by her brothers, Michael Livingston (Kuaku) and Anthony Roper (Tony).

Carrine's life was a testament to her strength, resilience, and determination. Her fierce love and deep commitment to her family remained steadfast despite life's challenges. In Jamaica, long before the term "organic food" became commonplace, Carrine was passionate about planting, growing and harvesting her own food, inspired by her grandfather's farming traditions. Her dedication to self-sufficiency ran so deep that she even built a pond in her yard to raise her own fish.

Living in Jamaica, Carrine's authenticity and creativity flourished as she honed her skills to be efficient with a sewing machine. Even with the harsh realities of life in Jamaica, Carrine was a tireless worker, pouring her heart and soul into her creative endeavors. Always a champion for her family, she worked tirelessly to build a better life for her family. Being a young mom, Carrine raised her four children, Kemishe Walsh, Kemar Walsh, Delroy Walsh, Jr. and Christopher Walsh, alongside four stepchildren, Winston Walsh, Iona Walsh, Marsha Walsh, and me, Lavern Walsh Blackwood, all varying in age. Her youth gave her a unique perspective, to connect with us. She was empathetic and insightful, and her guidance helped shape who we are today. Carrine was always jovial and smiling. I fondly remember her and our dad, Delroy “Rushie” Walsh, sharing countless belly laughs. He affectionately called her Wine, a nickname cherished by those who knew her from her younger days.

In 1996, Carrine emigrated to the United States with her four children to reunite with her mother. Carrine earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, embarking on a fulfilling career in healthcare. Guided by her natural aptitude for caregiving, Carrine served with compassion and professionalism as a CNA. She dedicated 15 years to Denver Health and later at the Veteran Administration Hospital at Colfax and I-225, making a difference, caring for patients and supporting nursing staff.

Carrine was no stranger to hard work. She had owned her own home in Jamaica, and when she relocated to the U.S., she was inspired to the same. For her, homeownership was not just to own a house, but a sense of belonging for her and her children that represented stability, safety, and a sanctuary to provide for her children and to create good memories. Despite the challenges, Carrine realized her dream of owning a home in Aurora, Colorado.

Another aspect of heritage that Carrine brought with her from Jamaica was her passion for preparing exquisite fish dinners for her family and friends. She didn’t use just any fish, but the freshest and most vibrant specimens available. Her meticulous preparation began in her modest kitchen, where the true magic unfolded. Her legendary Red Snapper, artfully stuffed with callaloo was among her many exceptional fish dishes. Family and friends would gather, drawn by the anticipation of one of her delicious meals and an opportunity to be together.

Over the years, Carrine treasured her visits back to Jamaica, seeing family and friends, rediscovering forgotten corners, and reconnecting with the rhythm of her rural Jamaican life. In her visits, Carrine understood it was not just the place or the memories, but the feeling of belonging to her tradition, her roots, her first home, honoring her grandfather’s legacy, and the homeland that shaped her.

Carrine's love for her family and friends was evident in everything she did. Carrine's children were the center of her world, and she loved them fiercely. She supported them in every way from guiding them through their education, encouraging their ambitions, and celebrating their achievements with immense pride. Even as some of her children moved across the country, Carrine remained their unwavering rock, always providing love and support. No matter where they lived or the distance – to them she was home – a source of stability, wisdom, and unconditional love. She made it a priority to celebrate their milestones, and accomplishments, and she cherished time spent together on family vacations, during holidays, and at every gathering.

Carrine was deeply connected to her family and friends throughout her life. She was a devoted mother to her four children, Christopher, Delroy Jr., Kemishe, Kemar, and her daughter-in-law Chelsey. She was a proud and loving grandmother to Rakeish, Ameir, Marley Rae, and Kemar Jr (KJ). Carrine had strong bonds with her sisters Beverly, Antoinette (Marva), and Felicia (Little Miss). Her cousins Donavan, Donvil, Rupert, and Eric Reynolds were more like brothers to her. She cherished her nieces Sasha and Kimberly Mills, Claudia Campbell, and Danice Roper, whom she supported through college in Jamaica and her grandnieces Jade, Nayima, and Levana. Her nephew Lennox Williams (Bob) and her grandnephews, Maquis, Issaac, Davon, and Travon, were exceptionally dear to her. Carrine also had a special relationship with her beloved Aunt, Dorothy Reynolds, with whom she communicated daily. Carrine cherished her friendship with WeSandra (Pauline) Candappa, who was like a sister and her husband, Hardy, their children Jada Lee, Jennal, and Vishual and grandchildren Laurien, Maya, Sara, Jhenessa, Junior, Vishnur (Jev), and Vidayne (Jay), were like her very own. Her cherished friendships with Michael Cunningham, Angela Williamson, and Opal Maxwell remained strong through the years. She had a deep love and respect for her friends who became family – like Shoshanna, Linda, Bud, Jocelyn, Bryanna, Lesley and the entire Helgeland family and her great friends at Denver Health at the VA Hospital where she worked.

Carrine was not one to seek the spotlight; she found comfort loving deeply and acting selflessly. Yet her presence was deeply felt, and her absence will be profoundly missed by family and friends. The quiet strength and unspoken passion she conveyed will resonate in our hearts forever.

Carrine’s passing leaves an immense void in our lives, but we know that her legacy will live on—in every memory, every lesson, and every life she touched. We will miss her dearly, but today we choose to celebrate the incredible person she was, the life she lived, and the impact she had on us. Rest in peace, dear Carrine – our beloved mother, sister, cousin, niece, aunt, grandmother and friend. You are deeply missed, but your memory will live on in our hearts forever.

She leaves behind her children Kemar Walsh, Kemishe Walsh, Delroy Walsh Jr., Christopher Walsh, and her daughter-in-law, Chelsey Walsh, her stepchildren Winston Walsh, Iona Walsh Wright, Marsha Walsh, and Lavern Walsh Blackwood; her grandchildren Rakeish, Ameir, Marley Rae, and Kemar Jr.; her sisters: Beverly Grant, Antoinette Mills, Felicia Livingston; her aunt Dorothy Reynolds; her cousins Donavan Reynolds, Donvil Reynolds, Rupert Reynolds, and Eric Reynolds; her nieces Sasha Mills, Kimberly Mills, Claudia Campbell, Danice Roper; her nephew Lennox Williams; her grandnieces Jade, Nayima, and Levana; her grandnephews Maquis, Issaac, Davon, and Travon; her dear friends WeSandra (Pauline) and Hardy Condappa, Michael Cunningham, Angela Williamson, Opal Maxwell, Shoshanna, Linda, Bud, Jocelyn, Bryanna, Lesley, the entire Helgeland family, and her great friends at Denver Health and the VA Hospital along with many other relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM followed by a graveside service at 1:00 PM. All services will be at Olinger Hampden Mortuary & Cemetery, 8600 East Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231.

Carrine, Carrine, you are so sweet,

She is the nicest person if you had the chance to meet.

If her heart was a radio, it would beat love,

Her smile is so bright it brightens up every room.

Her laugh is so infectious, we all laugh with her,

Her aura is so gravitating and strong, it just pulls you into a comfort state.

She is so sweet, she would give you the food off her plate and the last dollar to her name if you were in need.

She is sweet indeed and always wants you to succeed.

By Kemar Walsh