Henrietta Carrano

Henrietta Carrano slipped peacefully from this world, surrounded by her devoted husband John, and their children, on June 12, the day after her 75th birthday, leaving behind a legacy of quiet strength, endless generosity, and fierce, faithful love. To know her was to be seen, fed, prayed for, and wrapped in warmth-whether you were family, friend, or a stranger passing through.
Born June 11, 1950, to Billie and Henry Adams, Henrietta was the middle of five children-preceded in death by her sister Barbara Jenkins and brother Ray Adams, and survived by her beloved siblings Wanda (Dan) Wright and Jack (Danell) Adams.
Henrietta married the love of her life, John Carrano Jr., and together they built a family of eight children across nine military bases, two continents, and nearly 50 years of moves, changes, and reinvention. She was the constant-baking bread, building community, and creating home wherever the Air Force sent them. She was a valiant partner in a 31 year Air Force career. She raised Charisse, Stephanie, Angelina, Robin, John III, Henrietta, Dora, and Giustino with devotion, humor, and a deep well of wisdom. She loved and cherished her 18 grandchildren and hurt to think of not getting to love on her great-grandchildren. Her family was her life's joy, and somehow, her love stretched far enough to include everyone around her too.
From the beginning, Henrietta's life was marked by compassion in action. She never waited for someone else to step up-if she saw a need, she met it. And if it wasn't hers to meet, she found a way to help anyway. A lifelong volunteer and servant-leader, Henrietta gave herself to the work of loving others. She led Cub Scout troops, served at homeless shelters, organized church ministries, supported military families through family service centers, and even pioneered a hot lunch program at a school that had none-planning, cooking, and feeding children with the same love she gave her own. Over the years, her impact reached into classrooms, sanctuaries, base housing, soup kitchens, and hearts across the globe.
Henrietta was a true follower of Christ-not in name alone, but in practice. Her faith was lived in casseroles left on doorsteps, in kind words spoken to the hurting, and in the way she made space for everyone at her table. She believed in unconditional love and lived it without reservation.
She was endlessly creative-able to sew, craft, and decorate with joy and intention-and a phenomenal cook whose meals were equal parts nourishment and ministry. She listened well, laughed freely, and gave her whole self to the people and places she loved.
She was our steady hand, our north star, our constant call back to grace and goodness.
Henrietta's life will be celebrated in a service on 2 July at 3 pm, at Valparaiso First Church. She will be deeply missed by her husband John, her eight children, her sons and daughters-in-law, her 18 grandchildren, her siblings, extended family, and the countless lives she touched simply by being who she was.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor her legacy by serving someone else-feed someone, call someone, show up for someone. That's how she lived, and how she would want to be remembered.
She will always be loved by:
John Carrano Jr
Charisse, Jason, Melea and Mayah Stokes
Stephanie, Chad, Ian and Owen Barfield, and Mikayla and Josh Hawn
Angelina, Chris, Jordan, Addison, and Lilliana Becvar
Robin and Cienna Carrano, Sofia Tutwiler and Denny Tutwiler
John, Brandi, Anabelle, Julia and John (IV) Carrano III
Henrietta, Rico, Ashton, Silas, Giuliana and Lincoln Fusco
Dora, Jason and Eliza Ellis
Giustino and Carolyn Carrano
Wanda and Dan Wright and Danny Paul and family
Jack and Danell Adams, Dina, Casey and their families
Bobbi Farris, Cori Frels, and Eric Frels and families
Bernadette and Marc Puglisi, Alexandria, Ariana and
families.
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