Brenda Carol Carreras

December 31, 1945 – September 23, 2026

Brenda C. Carreras passed away on September 23, 2026, leaving behind a family who loved her more than words can say. She was a devoted wife, mother, stepmother, daughter, sister, and friend, but to her grandchildren she was lovingly known as Maw Maw, a name that became such a special part of who she was to her family.

Brenda was born on December 31, 1945, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Juanita and Tal Blackburn. In 1966, she welcomed her oldest daughter, Donna. The following year, in 1967, Brenda and Donna moved to California. It was there that Brenda met Henry Carreras, the love of her life. Brenda and Henry married and began building their life and family together.

In 1971, Brenda and Henry moved their family back to her home state of North Carolina. Their son Anthony “Tony” Carreras was born in 1973, followed by their daughter Shana in 1976. North Carolina became home for this chapter of their lives until 1983, when Brenda, Henry, and their family made the move to Denver, Colorado, which became home.

Brenda and Henry remained married until his passing, and she loved and missed him for the rest of her life.

Brenda was a devoted Christian, and her faith was incredibly important to her. She had a heart of gold and was one of those people who was simply kind to everyone. She loved helping others and was always there when someone in her family needed her.

Family was everything to Brenda.

Even after moving away from North Carolina, she remained extremely close with her mother, Juanita. They talked every day, and Brenda made regular trips back home to see her. When Juanita became ill, Brenda traveled back to North Carolina to help care for her, even though Brenda was dealing with health problems of her own at the time.

Brenda also shared a special bond with her brothers, Ron and David Blackburn. She loved talking with them and remained close with them throughout their lives. Their loss was deeply felt, and the love she had for her brothers never went away.

Brenda enjoyed music, and Elvis Presley was always her favorite. She loved watching her daytime soaps, especially Days of Our Lives. She loved being around her family, and she especially loved Christmas. Some of the best Christmas memories her family has are because of her.

And then there was her birthday.

Brenda was born on New Year’s Eve, something she loved to have a little fun with. When the fireworks would go off, she would joke with her grandson AJ that everyone was celebrating her birthday. It became one of those little things that the family will always remember. Now, when the fireworks go off every New Year’s Eve, there will always be a reason to think of Maw Maw.

Brenda was the mother of Donna Lopez, Anthony “Tony” Carreras, and Shana Morgan, and stepmother to Henry Carreras III. Tony preceded his mother in death, a loss that Brenda carried deeply and never stopped feeling.

As a mother and stepmother, Brenda was loving, caring, and always there for her family. She was a provider and a bright light in their lives.

As a grandmother, she was just as special.

Her grandchildren, AJ Lopez, Ashley Lopez, Carah Morgan, Mahra, Taurin, and Chiana, all knew her simply as Maw Maw.

Maw Maw was the kind of grandmother who always checked on you. She wanted to know that you were okay. She told you she loved you. She worried about you. And no matter what was happening in her own life, she always had love to give.

Her kindness was something her family will never forget.

In 2021, Brenda became extremely sick with COVID-19, and her health declined afterward. At one point, doctors gave her less than a 50 percent chance of surviving. But anyone who knew Brenda knew how strong she could be. She pulled through when the odds were against her.

After COVID, Brenda needed much more help with her everyday life. Her oldest daughter, Donna, and granddaughter Ashley dedicated themselves to caring for her around the clock and making sure she was comfortable and had everything she needed. Her grandson AJ and son-in-law Vincent also helped care for Brenda after work.

It wasn’t always easy, but Brenda was never alone.

The same woman who had spent so much of her life caring for other people now had her family there to care for her. Through everything, Brenda remained appreciative, loving, and sweet. She knew how much her family loved her, and she was surrounded by that love until her last day.

Brenda was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Carreras; her son, Anthony “Tony” Carreras; her parents, Juanita and Tal Blackburn; and her brothers, Ron and David Blackburn.

She leaves behind her children, Donna Lopez and Shana Morgan; her stepson, Henry Carreras III and wife Lisa; her sons-in-law, Vincent Lopez and Brian Morgan; her grandchildren, AJ Lopez, Ashley Lopez, Carah Morgan, Mahra, Taurin, and Chiana; along with family and friends who will miss her dearly.

There are so many things her family will miss about Brenda. Her kindness. Her faith. Her phone calls and the way she always checked on everyone. Elvis playing. Her soaps. Christmas with her. Hearing her say, “I love you.” And every New Year’s Eve, seeing the fireworks and remembering Maw Maw joking that the whole world was celebrating her birthday.

Brenda went through a lot during her life. She experienced loss, illness, and difficult times, but none of those things ever took away the kindness in her heart or the love she had for her family.

Her faith carried her through all of it.

And because of that faith, her family finds comfort in believing that Brenda is finally reunited with Henry, the love of her life; her son Tony, whom she missed so much; her mother Juanita, with whom she shared such a close bond; and her brothers, Ron and David, whom she loved dearly.

After spending so many years missing the people she loved, we like to think they were all there waiting for her.

Brenda was a wife, a mother, a stepmother, a daughter, a sister, and a friend.

But to us, she will always be Maw Maw.

We love you, Maw Maw.

And we always will.

To celebrate Brenda's life, a butterfly release will be held on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Contact Donna for more information.