Carmen Blosveren

Carmen Blosveren nee Calandra, 90, of Westminster, passed away peacefully at 10:30 pm on November 3, 2022, with her loving family by her side.

Carmen was born on August 14, 1932, and raised in Oued Ellil, Tunisia.  She was the daughter of the late John Calandra and Catherine Bilello Calandra. For 60 years, she was the loving wife of Richard Blosveren. She is survived by her daughter Barbara and son-in-law Ray Paddock of Los Angeles, California; son David and daughter-in-law Sheila; and her grandchildren Jake Blosveren, Katie Hogue, and her husband Chance Hogue of Bishopville, Maryland.  She is also survived by her sister Ninette Anaya and her brother-in-law Richard Anaya; niece Suzanne and her husband Bill Hartman of New York.  She is also survived by her nephew Richard Anaya; grandnephew Richard and grandniece Ariana.  She was predeceased by her brother Leonard Calandra.

After WW2, Carmen’s Aunt and Uncle, who lived in the United States, insisted that her father and family immigrate to the US, which they did in March 1950. Carmen always said it was the best decision her father ever made.  It gave her a chance for a better future.  After putting herself through night school to learn English and then later going to business school, she found a job at Random House where she met her future husband, Richard.  They married in 1962 and moved to Westminster in July 1968. 

In addition to being a loving wife and mother, she was an active member of many community organizations and a talented artist with a green thumb and a love of cooking. She joined the Westminster Garden Club in 1970 and was a member for over fifty years, serving for many years as treasurer and club photographer, as well as serving on multiple committees. During this time, she won many local and state awards for her creative floral design.  She especially took pride in her backyard, which was often compared to a mini–Longwood Gardens; she always said that her flowers were singing to her. She was also a cancer survivor; though her battle with breast cancer prevented her from being the Garden Club president in 1982, it didn’t take away her can-do attitude or her zest for life.

Carmen was an early supporter of the Carroll County Arts Center and a member of the Artist Guild. Over the years, many of her paintings were displayed at the Arts Center shows, and she was most proud of winning the “Artistic Excellence” award for her painting of sunflowers.  Additionally, Carmen was a member of the Carroll County Wine Society, and she and her husband hosted the annual December champagne bash for close to thirty years.  Aside from community involvement, Carmen and her husband traveled extensively; she especially enjoyed traveling to France and Italy, where she was able to visit her family and friends from Tunisia.

Carmen loved life, whether painting, designing floral arrangements, dancing to beautiful music, cooking for those she loved, or spending time with her family. She was full of enthusiasm and wonderment with the world around her. Those close to her often heard her regale the story of how she won a tango contest in New York.  Carmen was a Renaissance Woman who lived a wonderful life filled with love and activity.  To her, the world was beautiful, and nothing was more important than the people she loved. She will be missed.

There will be a private burial at the Westminster Cemetery on Saturday morning, November 12^, 2022.   A memorial service and lunch for family and friends will follow at Krug Chapel at Carroll Lutheran Village, 300 St. Luke Circle, Westminster, MD at 11:30 a.m.   

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.

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