Kelli Elise Carstens

On August 29, 2025, with great sorrow, our beautiful daughter Kelli Elise Carstens, age 55, told her Doctor “She was tired, She had enough and wanted to go home with Her Lord” following lung cancer returning in a very aggressive form.

Kelli was born on November 17, 1969, to her loving parents Carole Shaw Carstens and Frederick A Carstens Jr. When Kelli was born her older sister Karen was terminally ill with leukemia and Karen told everyone God was giving her a new baby sister for Christmas. Karen loved holding Kelli while rocking her to sleep.

Kelli loved to dance and attended Jean Shane Patrick Dance Studio for 16 years and was in training to teach dancing. As a young girl she belonged to Girard Playground playing all sports, but then found cheerleading for games and it became her first love. She also was a member of the YMCA where she earned “fish” status and went on to win many trophies swimming at meets for the Beach Club in Metairie and Broadwater Beach in Biloxi. She also enjoyed water skiing in Bay St Louis.

Kelli enjoyed Easter Sundays most of all. We had a group of at least 20 friends and family go to Sunday Brunch at the Royal Sonesta annually in the French Quarter, then walk down to the river and drink Captain Alexanders and enjoy the Jazz Bands. She loved the many family seafood boils at her aunt Carolyn and uncle Deets house with her cousins. She enjoyed Christmas Holidays and the many luncheons she and her mother attended. The Saints were her team and she was always ready for Sunday dinner and a good Saints game.

Kelli is a member of Mt Olive Lutheran Church, was educated at St John Lutheran School, graduated from Atonement Lutheran 8th grade. After graduating from Grace King High School she secured a position with Harry Connick’s administration in New Orleans. Following that position Kelli became a legal secretary at the Galloway Johnson Law Firm. Her last position was at All American Personal Care where she cared for special needs clients which was very rewarding to her. Kelli was a quiet, gentle and thoughtful person and would lend a helpful hand wherever needed.

Kelli has many family members waiting to greet her at her fathers’ home. Predeceased are her older sister Karen Edra Carstens, her grandparents Lucille Krieger Carstens and Frederick Carstens Sr, Gertrude Krumm Shaw and Edward W Shaw, aunts and uncles Carolyn Carstens Cyrus and Joseph Cyrus, Robert Carstens, Shirley Shaw Schwebel and Elroy C Schwebel Sr, cousins Elroy C Schwebel Jr and Shelley Cyrus.

Kelli leaves behind to remember, in grief and love, her parents Carole and Fred, her brothers Kevin Edward Carstens, Scott Frederick Carstens and wife Tricia and Godson Ashton, her cousins Cynthia Galland, whom she called nanny, and her husband Manual Galland, son Manny Jr and Trey, Mellissa and Sid Mayeau, Suzette and Billy Page, Kerry Cyrus, Lori and Mike Majeau and all those who knew and loved her as much as we do.

Kelli’s family would like to acknowledge the many doctors, nurses and personnel at UMC who treated and cared for her since her journey began. She was treated with dignity and kindness and we thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts.

Relatives and friends are invited to join us in attending her funeral service at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 315 Ridgelake Dr., Metairie, La. on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM with a Church Service from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM with a Reception from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Interment will be private for family only. Please consider donations to Mt Olive Lutheran Church.