Carmen "Connie" Courtois

Albany, WI – Carmen Courtois, age 95, passed away on July 23, 2023 at UW Hospital in Madison. Carmen was born on August 18, 1927 in Santurce, Puerto Rico the daughter of Francisco Chico Vigo and Carmen Laureano Ascursa. Carmen was a wife and mother for many years and helped out on the farm outside Albany. Later she worked as a seamstress prior to retirement first at APCO in Brodhead, WI and then at Simmons Mattress in Janesville. She retired in 1992 and lived in the town of Albany for many years until she moved to Waunakee in 2012 to be closer to her grandkids. Carmen enjoyed a good laugh, from friends and family alike. She had the ability to find humor in the good and the bad. Carmen enjoyed farm life, and all the animals as well as her companion dogs, including her pet Schnauzer Brook, rat terrier Jenny, and collie/shepherd mix Tiger. She enjoyed going to garage sales and was known for all of her bargains and would brag about them to whoever would listen. Carmen loved her grandchildren, whom she shamelessly spoiled. She would drive a full hour in blinding snow to deliver way too many Christmas presents and almost never missed a birthday party for them. She also enjoyed stuffing her home with antiques and collectibles from all those garage sales. Carmen was a huge Green Bay Packers fan and met a few of the players, including Reggie White and Donald Driver. Carmen supported St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Albany and all the parishioners and priests. Carmen was able to make her trip to the Holy Land in 1997. Carmen enjoyed taking care of her little house and mowing with her riding lawnmower until she was in her late 70s, going out to lunch with her daughter, visits and trips with her son, and any kind of visit from her grandkids. Carmen enjoyed all her lifelong friends that she had in the towns of Albany, Brodhead, and Janesville. Carmen is survived by her daughter, Michelle (Dan) Wallen of Waunakee WI and her son, Bruce Courtois of Vevay, Indiana; her grandchildren, Stephanie Wallen, of Cambridge, MA and Benjamin Wallen of Madison WI; her nieces, Donna Whitelaw of Bloomingdale NY and Valerie Noel of Fulton, NY and a cousin, Digna Laureano of San Leandro, CA. Carmen was preceded in death by her parents, Francisco and Carmen Chico Vigo and a sister, Lucy Gorr. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made out to the Salvation Army, the Humane Society, and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in her memory. The family politely asks that all visitors wear a mask for the visitation and funeral mass due to health concerns. Masks will be provided if needed. A mass of Christian burial will be held at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Albany, WI on Monday, August 7, 2023 at 2:00 PM. A visitation will also take place at the church on Monday from 1:00 PM until the time of mass. Burial will conclude at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church cemetery in Albany. The DL Newcomer Funeral Home in Brodhead is assisting the family with arrangements. www.dlnewcomerfuneralhome.com 608-897-2484

Carmen "Connie" Courtois

August 18, 1927 - July 23, 2023