Obituary
Carmen Jean Roraff
Carmen Jean Roraff age 18, of Onalaska passed away unexpectedly on May 30, 2023. She was born October 1, 2004 to Paul Sr and Kimberly Roraff.
Carmen loved track, softball and loved coaching and mentoring young athletes in Onalaska. She loved her friends, Packers and the Brewers, trips to the Dells and northern Wisconsin and the yearly family tubing trip.
Carmen was survived by her parents Paul Sr and Kimberly, sister Shelby (Derek), brother Paul Jr (Justice), Grandparents Phil Sr and Judy Roraff, Mona and Steve Craig, Bobbi Graves, Phil Jr and Nancy, Trennette Greer (Rodney), best friends Aahlani Liebsch, Lizzy Kehr, Maxine Loedine, the Odom family, and dear family friend Richard Mullenberg.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, aunts, uncles and Tundra her dog.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 at 11:00 am at The Gathering Place, 133 Mason St., Onalaska. Fr. Doug Robertson will officiate. Visitations will be held on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm and also Wednesday from 10:00 am until the time of service all at The Gathering Place.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Boys and Girls Club of La Crosse, and Mississippi Valley Pride.
The Family would like to especially thank the Onalaska High School track team, staff and students, the City of Onalaska and friends and family in Louisiana and Texas.
To lose someone so soon is to be a victim of life’s thieving tendencies. Carmen was light as a warm summer breeze. She was a field of wildflowers and a soft rain. Her life was cut short by the hands of ill fate itself, and I don’t believe anyone could ever fully grasp the weight of her passing and the massive hole she has left in our lives. Carmen was driven and purposeful. She couldn’t be swayed once she made her mind up, and that was what we all loved about her. She excelled in anything she put her mind to, whether it be running her heart out on the track or making a family laugh while she served them overpriced wings, she was never once accused of not being her full charismatic self. So when your driving through a rain storm as the sun shines down on you, think of her. When you see the beach and feel the sun on your skin, that is her hugging you, letting you know that she is still here with us in spirit.
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
I am so very sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to the entire family at this difficult time. (Judy, rest assure Rebecca, Mom and Dad welcomed her with open arms to Heaven, and they will take care of her, until she reunites with her family.) You are in my thoughts and prayers at this extremely difficult time, God Bless you all.
Carmen was so sweet, lived her family and friends, and our prayers and condolences go out to all those that she touched!! Let us celebrate her life and all her accomplishments!!!
carmen, the sweetest soul, the one to put a smile on my face, my pitching buddy, a good friend and teammate. forever thankful and forever loving you sweet girl? always gonna remember the good times we had together ??
I’m lost for words, please know we are thinking about you all at this tragic time ?
Such a tremendous loss. Deepest sympathies. Sending hugs and blessings.
I met Carmen when she was quite young. So charming and sweet. Was happy to see post of her graduating. Saw pics of a sports lover and lovely young woman she turned out to be. My heart is so broken to hear of her passing. Love, sympathy to Paul, Kim, rest of family, and all her friends.
My heart aches for you and your family.
( I am a long-time friend of Judy and Phil and Mary Mother of the Church in La Crosse.)
Your family is in our thoughts. We feel your pain even though it has been years since we have been together. All of our love to you at this most difficult of times.
The Sandlin Family
My family is so sorry for your loss,
We have always loved carmen as our own
With greatest sympathy
We will always remember her for her witty loving self
We miss you Carmen jean
Carmen was such a sweet girl and dear friend to my brother. Praying for all of you at this time and the days to come.
Carmen was a wonderful person and a great friend to our daughter Maxine. Our entire family is grieving your loss.
Carmen touched my heart when I first saw her picture on her Mom’s desk at work. This is an unbelievable loss to the universe and I will think of her often as I live out my days. Rest easy Carmen. ? ❤️
Kim & Paul, My thoughts and prayers of comfort and understanding are with you and your family as you mourn the great loss of Carmen. With my deepest condolences.
My heart breaks for all who loved Carmen. I am Lizzy Kehr’s grandma and had met Carmen. Lizzy spoke of her often and I know her passing will leave an emptiness in the hearts of everyone that knew her. Fly high sweet girl!
Beautiful words for such a beautiful spirit. My deepest sympathy to all of you.
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Paul and Kimberly, It’s hard to express how badly we feel over the loss of your daughter. Please know your family is in our prayers as you navigate this very difficult time.
My deepest sympathies to family and friends. Thinking of you during this difficult time.
There is no greater loss and my heart breaks for you all. She was so beautiful and when I am driving through a rainstorm and the sun is shining I will know her presence. Such a beautiful obituary for such a beautiful girl.
So sorry for you’re tragic loss she graduated with my graduated granddaughter Madison Scalf. Prayers to you’re family and friends. Love be with you all.
So sorry for the loss of precious Carmen Jean, Lots of thoughts and prayers. I love u guys
I’m so glad I got to call Carmen one of my best friends. I’m going to miss her so much. I haven’t had a single thought other than her since the news got out. She made such a positive impact on mine and so many others lives. We shared so many unforgettable memories together whether it was at work or making trips together. We both share a favorite memory from that summer and it was going to the dells. We always talked about how we wanted to go again this summer and about other plans that needed to be made for the future. I’m so happy I got to celebrate her last birthday with her and to make her smile and laugh. I’ve never had a single bad memory with Carmen. We were supposed to go to crumble cookies next week together and now I will still be going knowing that she will always be by my side. Carmen has such a beautiful soul and that is what I loved most about her. We both loved to dance, make jokes, or going shopping. Carmen will forever be loved and missed by many people including myself.
I never knew Carmen directly, but I felt like I did through you Kim. As wonderful as you are a person, as wonderful as I trusted your children to be including Carmen. My condolences to your family. What a loss to endure. Thinking of you all. Sending all my love.
You have my families deepest sympathies on the loss of one so young. We did not know her, but can tell she was a wonderful soul. May God wrap his arms around your entire family during this difficult time. We are so sorry. ?
My condolences to your family during this very difficult time. Hugs to you all.
My heart hurts for you and your family Kim. Lots of prayers being lifted up for all who knew and loved her from your Louisiana friends/family.
My deepest sympathies to you and your family. My son Simon Desmond graduated with Carmen. I can’t imagine your pain. I am so sorry. May God give you divine comfort and peace as you grieve & try to make sense of it all! My heart just hurts for all of you!
My deepest sympathy to the Roraff family. I never had the honor of meeting Carmen , but grandma Judy shared so many wonderful things and her accomplishments with me. God be with you all thru this time of sorrow.
I am so sorry for your pain. There are no adequate words. My heart hurts and grieves alongside yours.
Carmen Jean,
I attended your visitation principally to support your grandparents, Judy and Phil, my friends from church. But the best moment was when I hugged your dad and said “one dad to another, I can’t imagine what you’re feeling.” He trembled in my arms. If you could send him some sign, I know it would comfort him.
My boys and I are so sorry to hear this. My kids are age 9 and 11 and she coached them last year for track. My oldest son came home today and told me what happened he was at his dads all weekend. He remembered Nikki and Carmen from last year. He felt horrible asking Nikki where she was and found out from someone else. Our hearts are aching for you all. She was a beautiful soul and my boys loved that she taught them during summer track.
Phil, Judy and the entire Roraff family: You have my deepest sympathies over the unexpected loss of Carmen as I have just heard about the news. I lit a candle at church this past Saturday and will continue to prayer for you all. Please take care of your hearts by leaning on your family and friends as you move through this very difficult time.
So very hard to learn of this. I send my deepest sympathy and condolences to her friends and family. It is so very hard to have someone so vibrant and alive in each moment be taken at such a young age.As you shared, her spirit will be surrounding us and holding us by the gifts if nature and our memories.