Carlene Marie Todd

Carlene did not simply live—she radiated. She was a songbird at heart, her life filled with music, laughter, and a spirit that could not be dimmed. She was color in its most vivid form—warm, bright, and impossible to forget. Wherever she went, she brought light, humor, and a sense of joy that lingered long after she left the room.

For over 50 years, Carlene faced cancer with remarkable strength and quiet grace. Even after suffering a stroke in 2020, she continued to live fully and freely, never allowing hardship to diminish her spirit. She was slow to complain, if ever, and always ready with a joke, a laugh, or a comforting word. Her extraordinary resilience and joy defined her.

She graduated from Drury College in 1973 and remained a devoted lifelong member of Kappa Delta. During those years, she formed cherished and enduring friendships with Sandy, Rod, Connie, and Jana that remained dear to her throughout her life.

Carlene found beauty in everything, and her life was richly full. She loved to sing, to create, and to nurture—through art, cooking, sewing, and gardening. Her faith in God was steady and guiding, woven into the way she lived and loved. She and her beloved husband, Steve, spent over a decade in Sarasota, Florida, where she was a choir member at Church of the Palms and an active volunteer in her community. She felt most alive near the ocean—drawn to the beach, the rhythm of drum circles, and the simple magic of sun and sea.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Steve Todd; her mother, Alleen Andrick; her stepfather, Dale Andrick; and her father, Carl Harre.

She leaves behind a legacy of deep love in her children, Kristin Shippee, Ann Shippee, and Adam Shippee (Tracy); and in her grandchildren, Brooke Delatorre, Alyssa Liscomb, Gracelyn Shippee, Benjamin Shippee, and Maxine Todd—each of whom carries a piece of her light forward. She is also survived by her loving sister, Lynn Pooler (Mike), her step-son, Louis Todd, and her brother, Ray Harre (Peggy).

Carlene’s life was a melody—one of faith, laughter, resilience, and love. Though her voice is no longer heard in the same way, its echo remains in every life she touched.

We find peace in knowing she is now with Jesus, reunited with those who went before her—her song continuing in Heaven.

Services will be held on April 28, 2026, at Newcomer’s White Chapel Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m., followed by services at 4:00 p.m. Following Carlene’s Celebration of Life, family and friends are invited to gather for dinner and drinks at Trezo Mare in Briarcliff at 6:00 p.m. in the private room.