Walliegene Carranza

One of the most generous and giving souls in the world, that of Walliegene Carranza, was received by her Maker on 18 January 2025. Walliegene, "Walli" to her friends, accomplished so much in her 66 years. She was a nurse, wife, mother, midwife, educator, rabbi, rescue worker, and chaplain to three police departments before cancer ended her service.

Walli was born in Williamsville, NY, in 1959 and attended ballet studies in New York City. She attended nursing school in Houston, TX, where she met and married Henry Carranza. They started their family while she worked as a nurse/midwife in Texas. She later received her PhD in Nursing Education. She moved to Colorado Springs, CO in 1996, to work in healthcare education and health coaching. In 2017 she was ordained a rabbi and founded the ALEPH congregation while serving as a chaplain in the local police department. In 2020 she went to Auch, France, to serve as rabbi, working closely with the local imam and the Catholic priest in an ecumenically shared cathedral. She also served in the International Rescue Organization with her beloved King Shepard, Leilah. She continued to deliver babies both in Ukraine and in Egypt. Her last position was as associate dean of a medical school in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. She passed away peacefully in Colorado Springs with many of her children, grandchildren, and friends attending.

Walliegene was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Genevieve Deth (Smith), her husband, Henry Carranza, and their son, Luke Carranza. She is survived by her children, Genevieve (Parris) and her husband, Jonathan, her son, Enrique, her daughter, Gabrielle, and daughter, Graciella (Graham) and her husband, Levi, and her six beloved grandchildren, Kai, Evie, Kiara, Aaliyah, and Jaxon, and Samuel.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the American Cancer Society.