Carmen A. Coleman:

Born in Nashua, New Hampshire to Esther and Albert LeBlanc, she was the second of four sisters . Her parents were of French Canadian descent and French was spoken in her home. She and her sisters were very devoted to their mother and father, Pepere and Memere. Carmen attended a French Catholic school for girls for 12 years in Nashua, and her strong faith was of great support to her friends and family throughout her life.

She met her future husband Bob Coleman in 1943 at a Nashua bowling alley, when he was home on leave awaiting orders to the Pacific. Locally known as a very good dancer, Bob remembers "Boy, could she jitterbug!"... but she was quick to tell him the Greek men were the best dancers. When he was in the Pacific Bob wrote Carmen often, becoming very close during when he came home on leave. The war ended, Bob came home to Nashua on Christmas Eve 1945, and immediately asked her to marry him.

They were married June 14th, 1947; Bob got a job with Mack Trucks in Boston where they lived for 2 years in the attic of a big boarding house. In 1948 her first son Jim was born, her folks came to Boston and brought the young family back to Nashua. Bob got promoted and they moved to Bridgeport CT where their second son Bob was born and their daughter Joyce was born. Bob and Carmen learned to play whist and bridge in an adult education class, a passion that continued the rest of her life. From Connecticut they moved to New Jersey 1966 where their third son Paul was born.

In 1968 Bob left a 20 year career with Mack to build REMCO Trucks in Orlando, Florida. The move was tough on Carmen who was very upset to be leaving the Northeast, her parents and her sisters. And although as Bob recalls "she cried all the way to Florida" they joined a small parish church in Maitland, St. Mary Magdalen, where she joined the newcomers group, began to play bridge and quickly made friendships.

Carmen raised a loving family, made many close friends and travelled the world with Bob. As a member of St. Gerard's Circle she was active in charity work; throughout her life she was a source of strong support and compassionate care to both family and friends. From the morning of her first communion when she saw an angel at the foot of her bed, she felt and shared their presence throughout her life. Devoted to the Virgin Mary, Carmen's earnest faith was an absolute rock; her constant prayers for others touched us all. Her quick wit, wonderful sense of humor and nonstop conversation will be missed by all who knew her and shared a cup of coffee across her kitchen table. Carmen Coleman was a dutiful daughter, caring sister, wonderful wife, loving mother and compassionate friend. Our loss is heaven's gain....and we have another angel looking out for us all.