Janine Simone Carr

Janine Simone Carr – beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother– passed away on January 17th, 2026, at her daughter's home in Alameda at the age of 100.

Janine was born on December 1st, 1925, in Paris, France. When Nazi Germany occupied Paris, Parisians faced severe food shortages, mandatory rationing and curfews. When her father was taken prisoner of war, she and her mother left Paris and fled to the Free Zone near Limoges. There they remained until Paris was liberated. She had so many interesting stories from this time of her life. Even at her advanced age, she had an amazing memory. When the Americans liberated Paris, her girlfriend's mother, who spoke English, would invite American officers to her home for Sunday dinners. Here she met her first husband. Three years later, she boarded an airplane for the first time and landed in Chicago, was married and had her daughter Lili in 1948. A few years later, that marriage ended and she began working for Air France and opened Chicago's first ticket office. In 1954 she met the love of her life. Marrying Chuck, who was in the airline industry, immersed her in a life of travel she never imagined she would ever have. She always said that Edith Piaf's song, "La Vie en Rose", exactly depicted word for word how she felt when she met him. In 1958 Michelle (Mimi) was born. The family moved a lot and much to Janine's happiness, they moved to Paris in 1963. In 1969 back to the United States where they settled in Alameda. Here she had a wonderful group of French friends who would get together weekly.

She volunteered at the Alameda Museum and at Alameda Hospital as an Auxiliary member making puppets for sick children. She taught conversational French for a while at Mastick's Senior Center and loved going to the "Knitting Group" - the weekly class she called her United Nations gathering! There was every nationality there, some with thick accents and all understood each other perfectly!

Janine was a warm, charming, sweet and gentle person. Never had a bad thought about anyone. She had a flair for fashion, never went anywhere without wearing lipstick, nails polished, and hair coiffed.

Her accent was charming and delightful. She appreciated a nice whiskey before dinner and reveled in a good French champagne any day. She loved everything with a leopard or tiger print! She enjoyed listening to French music and opera, especially La Bohème. Though she left France to make a new life in America, she still was French through and through and needed to go back home twice a year until she could no longer travel the distance.

Janine is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Sam Koka, grandchildren Nathalie Koka Rocco, and Alex Koka and great-granddaughters Charlotte, Nora and Abigail Rocco. Preceding her in death were her parents, Charles and Marcelle Dubuis, her husband Chuck Carr in 1988 and her daughter Lili Carr in 2024.

She loved her family and her God and prayed nightly in French that her little family and caregivers would be protected.

Upon Janine's request, private services will be held with her family.

Harry Greer, Funeral Director (FDR-745)

May her soul rest in eternal peace.