Obituary of Kristen Marie Carpenter

Kristen Marie Carpenter, formerly of Elmira,

age 57, daughter of John and Catherine (Frawley) Carpenter, passed away peacefully in The Villages, FL on August 31, 2023.  She passed in the loving presence of her father, uncle and aunt Ron and Helen Lovejoy and stepdaughter Sarah Demers.  Kristen was born and raised in Elmira and was a 1984 graduate of Elmira Free Academy, continuing her education at Syracuse University.  It was in Syracuse where she met her future husband, Richard Newman.  They worked together at ATS, an Apple specialist firm.  For the past few years, she had been working for EMS LINQ out of North Carolina.

Kristen was pre-deceased by her mother Catherine and husband Richard.  She is survived by her father John Carpenter of The Villages FL; sister Kira Carpenter of Everett PA; uncles and aunts, Chuck and Pam Carpenter, Col. Ken and Diane Nadrah, Ronald and Helen Lovejoy, Rick and Kay Bonta; several cousins; stepchildren, Sarah Demers and Dan Newman with their families.

Kristen possessed an amazing intellect coupled with a truly great sense of humor. Her ability to communicate verbally and on paper was second to none.  She had an innate capacity to make everyone feel special and important, as she was both intellectually and emotionally gifted.  As she battled cancer the accolades from friends and coworkers whose hearts she touched attest to the deep love and respect they felt for her.  Shortly before she passed her boss and a fellow employee flew to Florida from Kansas City to pay their respects. Her boss stated Kristen was absolutely one of the smartest people he had ever met and a single interview persuaded him to hire her.

These special quotes, by author Khalil Gibran were favorites of Kristen…. "If one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flower withers, but the seed lives on” .... “Only when you drink from the River of Silence shall you indeed sing, and when you reach the mountain top then you shall begin to climb, and when the earth shall claim your limbs, then you shall truly dance".    Kristen's favorite song was Simon and Garfunkel's "The Boxer".  She would certainly appreciate you playing this song while gratefully remembering the positive influence she had on those that meant so much to her.  Kristen, we will forever miss you and love you so much.

Family and friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira NY, on Saturday, November 4, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.