Mrs Gudrun Charlotte Gertrud Carney of Winter Park, Florida passed away on Thursday, June 06, 2024, at the age of 84.

Gudrun was born to parents Gunter and Charlotte Matschiwali in 1940 in Berlin, Germany. Throughout her life, Gudrun loved music. In her late teens, Gudrun enjoyed the thriving European jazz scene, attending live performances by Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. Family and friends all have wonderful stories and lasting memories of exuberant Christmas parties and lively gatherings filled with laughter, dancing, and lots of music (particularly jazz).

Gudrun also loved travel. In her twenties, Gudrun worked as an Au Pair for a family in London, England. After applying to an Eastern Airlines training program, Gudrun arrived in the United States, reporting first in Miami, then moving onto New York City, and eventually settling in Ohio. Gudrun became a US Citizen in the early 1960s. Taking after her father, Gudrun intially studied Business and Textiles in Germany. Once in the US, Gudrun studied Interior Design at the Ohio State University. Gudrun went on to work full time in several industries, including banking and real estate.

After a whirlwind romance of less than 6 months, Gudrun married the love of her life, Thomas, in 1973. The couple raised two children, Gwendolyn and Patrick. The family resided in Ohio, Minnesota, and South Carolina but called Central Florida home, including Winter Park and oceanside, in Cocoa Beach. In the late 1990's, Gudrun was able to show Thomas many of the wonders of Europe, traveling to London, Paris, Zurich, Rome and (of course) Berlin to re-connect with dear friends, attend a wedding, meet long-lost cousins, and have a romantic adventure a lifetime in the making.

As a wife and mother, Gudrun was a tour-de-force and the creator of many magical moments. A lover of art, Gudrun spent hours creating mouth-watering meals, sewing trendy clothes, crafting hand-made holiday ornaments, tending to her many plants, and filling her home with love and family-focused strength of spirit.

Gudrun's happiest hours were spent sitting by the pool, martini (or good brandy) in hand, surrounded by family and friends, laughing and telling stories late into the night - often with a fine cigar. Illness would eventually deprive Gudrun of her fierce independence but could not diminish her strong will or her enjoyment of late-night chats on the patio with son Patrick and a glass of fine wine.

Gudrun is survived by her son, Patrick Carney; her daughter, Gwendolyn and husband James Barnebee; her sister-/brother-in-law, Mary Ellen and Micheal Skeya; her nephew Shaun Skeya and family; her niece Margaret Howells and family as well as her extended family in Canada and Germany, including cousins Andreas Brachlow and family, Lars Brachlow and family, Martina Esbaugh and family, Klaus Luttgemann and family, and Rudi Bottger. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister, husband Thomas, and many dear family and friends.

Friends and family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life, scheduled for July 13, 2024, located at Mead Botanical Gardens: 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park, Florida 32792 from 10:00am - 2:00pm. Burial will be a private ceremony at a later date.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Gudrun Carney's name to the National Breast Cancer Foundation by visiting: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/752391148 or to Alzheimers Family Organization Inc by visiting https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/593577101