Carmen Anita Hightower

In Loving Memory of Carmen Anita Hightower Sunrise: August 23, 1951 – Sunset: October 11, 2025. Carmen Anita Hightower, age 74, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2025, surrounded by her cherished family. A woman of grace, strength, and quiet compassion, Carmen left an indelible mark on everyone fortunate enough to know her. Born in Elgin, Illinois, Carmen-affectionately known as Anita-carried the spirit of her roots wherever life took her. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Her home was a sanctuary of love, laughter, and soulful music, where Sunday dinners and Thanksgiving feasts brought generations together. She was the heart of the family-the glue that held everyone close. Anita had a deep love for animals, especially her beloved dogs Rocky and Sheeba. She found joy in singing with The Women of the Cross and nurtured a lifelong passion for gardening, cultivating beauty both in her yard and in the lives around her. Professionally, Carmen dedicated over thirty years as an accountant for the State of Connecticut, serving with diligence and integrity. Her legacy lives on in the values she instilled and the lives she uplifted. She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Jackie Hightower, and her children: • Lawrence Good and his wife Maria, along with their children Jordan, Julian, and Jarrett • Anthony Good and his children Corey Armstrong and Anthony Good Jr. • Tracy Pedroso and her husband Alex Pedroso, and their children Rio and Alano • Chardonnay McWillie and Chaminade McWillie, her beloved niece and nephew whom she raised as her own. She also leaves behind her sister Margaret Elizabeth Daniel; brother-in-law Jerry Adams; and nieces and nephews Charisse Daniel, Darrick Bass, and Mahogany Greer. Carmen is preceded in death by her parents, William Joseph Stephens and Elizabeth Beatrice Stephens; her sister Emma Jean Adams; and nieces Veronica Bass and Christina Bass. Carmen's family will receive family and friends on Monday, October 20, 2025, from 10am-11:30am, followed by a Homegoing Celebration at 11:30am, at The Lodge Community Chapel, 130 Deerfield Road, Windsor, CT. The interment will follow immediately after in Mountain View Cemetery. She has gone home to eternal peace, but her light remains with us-in every act of kindness, every shared memory, and every moment we choose love. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carmen, please visit our floral store.