Carmen Rena Sorenson

Carmen Rena (Howard) Sorenson, age 76, passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2014 in Eau Claire surrounded by her loving family. Carmen was born to Glen and Thelma (Johnson) Howard on October 2, 1937 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She was the second of eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. Graduating from Eau Claire Senior High school in 1955, Carmen married Rodney August Sorenson on August 24, 1957. Rodney liked to tell people that when he saw Carmen for the first time, when she was wearing a yellow dress, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Although she was only 19 when they married, she had already been helping in the care of her younger siblings for many years. Their first year of married life was in Kentucky as Rodney, who served in the United States Army, was posted at Fort Campbell. Their first child, Julie Ann, died within hours of birth and is buried there. They moved to Minneapolis for a brief time before coming home to Eau Claire in 1959 where their second child, Jon Martin, was born. Within 13 months, Julie was born and 5 years later, Carmen was mother to another four children: Jeffrey, Jacqueline, Jennifer and James. From the beginning, Carmen devoted herself to raising her children while her husband provided for the family. She made a decision to stay at home and become a career mother. As uncommon as this is today, it was progressive when she took on this role. Carmen made sure that the family unit remained the focus of the Sorenson family home, with weekly coffee, cookies and conversation with her mother and sisters in the kitchen, while her children played with their cousins. She took the opportunity to instill family values in her children, insisting that her children visit their elderly neighbors and visited the nursing home to see grandparents. Chores were part of daily life as she, together with her husband, strived to bring up the six children to be independent, god-fearing, motivated, productive individuals. This was not done with any material reward of luxury in mind: a bottle of Coca Cola once a week was more than enough treat for her. In the background of her efforts to raise her young family, her long fight against illness started while she was still in her twenties. As much as she spent her time battling her illnesses, she spent at least as much effort being a mother to her children and behaving motherly towards her nephews, nieces and anyone who came into her life. She was always ready with warm cookies and a story to tell. Of course, no story didn’t have the “Carmen Spin” on it: nieces who locked themselves in closets because of bad haircuts, taking Billy Noss to nursing homes to play “Ho Ho” Santa Claus, piling far too many children into their station wagon to go down to Irvine Park for hamburgers and fries (and feed the bears with whatever leftovers there were), going to the Sorenson farm to play in bare feet and eat weekly Sunday dinners. Throughout her many years, she never allowed her illness to define her. The abiding memory that her children and extended family have of her is one of sacrifice, kindness, generosity and cheeky humor. Carmen will be deeply missed and is survived by her six children, Jon “Marty” (Anne) Sorenson of Boise, Idaho, Julie (Harpreet) Anand of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jeff (Kim) Sorenson, Jackie (Mike) Vold, Jennie (Gary) Wise and Jim (Heather) Sorenson, all of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; 23 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren. She is further survived by six siblings, Dale Howard, Vic (Carol) Howard, Diane (George) Bjork, Susan (Duff) Halvorsen, Linda (Norm) Friend and Tim (Marie) Howard. She is also survived by six in-laws: Ken Jain, Bernie Sorenson, Carol Horstman, Lloyd (Gail) Sorenson, Mary Worthen and Jennie Sorenson. There are innumerable nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends, recent and old. She is preceded in death by her husband, Rodney; infant daughter, Julie Ann; infant granddaughter, Shiloh Sorenson; her parents; her infant sisters, Carol and Mary; two sisters, Judy Cavanaugh and Cynthia Jain; brothers-in-law, Roger Cavanaugh and Dick Horstman; and her four “furry” children, Chevy, Dudley, Smooches and Tazzie. The family is very grateful for the compassionate, loving care provided by the staff of Milestone Senior Living facility, Mayo Clinic Hospice, and the numerous doctors who have cared for her and, on more than one instance, worked to make sure Carmen’s family and friends were not untimely denied her wisdom, stories and kindness. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2014, at St. James the Greater Catholic Church, 2502 11th St. in Eau Claire, with Father John A. Schultz officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7p.m. with a public prayer vigil beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2014, at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave. in Eau Claire, and also one hour prior to the Mass on Saturday at the church. Entombment will be in the Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum in Eau Claire.

Service Information

Cemetery

Ressurection Chapel Mausoleum

WI

Visitation

Friday, March 28 2014
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Services
814 First Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54703

Prayer Service

Friday, March 28 2014
6:30 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Services
814 First Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54703

Mass of Christian Burial

Saturday, March 29 2014
11:00 AM

St. James the Greater Catholic Church
2502 11th Street
Eau Claire WI 54703