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BORN
1943
DIED
2023
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Karina Courtmanche Obituary
Karina Valerie Courtmanche, 80, passed away peacefully at Mary Wade on December 19, 2023, after a lengthy illness.
Karina was born November 20, 1943, in Liepaja, Latvia to Anna (Martens) and Erichs Murnieks. Erichs died in combat in 1943, prior to Karina's birth. After the war Karina and Anna settled in a Displaced Persons camp in Neustalt, Holstein, Germany where Anna met and married Eduards Kalnins. In 1952, sponsored by the World Council of Churches, Karina, Anna, and Eduards ("Pop") moved to Torrington, Connecticut. Karina graduated from Torrington High School in 1963 (honors), and Grace-New Haven School of Nursing in 1966. She received a Bachelor's Degree in psychology (Magna Cum Laude) from Southern Connecticut University in 1977, and a Master's Degree in nursing from Yale University in 1988 with high honors. [Author's note: Karina would be mortified if her academic achievements were not mentioned.]
Karina worked as a psychiatric nurse at the CT Mental Health Center and as an Advanced Practice Nurse at VACT. From 1986 to 1989, she was on faculty at CT Valley Hospital Residency Training and Clinical Associate at St. Joseph's College Graduate Programs for Psychiatric Nursing. From 1989 to 1991, she was a psychotherapist in private practice in West Haven. From 1992 to 2008, she was a Clinical Associate faculty member of Yale School of Nursing Graduate School, Fairfield University, and Quinnipiac School of Nursing Masters Program After retiring from VACT in 2008, she was an instructor at Gateway Community College.
Karina was married to Gordon Paul Courtmanche (1971 - 1979). She loved music and dancing and was devoted to caring for her animals. In July, with the help of her Hospice nurse (Michelle Walker), Lucille Alouah, AMR, and the staff at Mary Wade, Karina was taken to Bittersweet Farm for a last visit with her horse, Bella. Karina was blessed with many friends who provided supportive care: her neighbors, the staff at Mary Wade and hospice as well as long-term friends Melanese Kotey, Lucille Alouah, Maria Merola, and Trish Helm.
Memorial services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 292 Orange Street, New Haven, CT on January 27, 2024 at 11:00a.m. Parking is at the corner of Wall and Orange streets.
Memorial donations may be made in honor of Karina to Mary Wade, 118 Clinton Avenue, New Haven, CT 06513.
To offer an online condolence, please visit gleesonryanfh.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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