Carrie Lynne De Leon (Rolain), 68, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2026, at AngelsGrace Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by the family she loved so deeply.

Carrie is survived by her husband, Joe De Leon; her daughters, Erin Cherney (Jamie Rozwadowski) and Jessica De Leon (Randy Loberger); her grandson, Tyler Cherney; her granddaughters, Ella and McKenzie Rozwadowski; her “sister”, Maria Molina; and the many family members and friends who loved her. She was preceded in death by her brother, Steve Rolain; her mother, Coletta Nault; and her father, Walter “Pete” Rolain.

Born in Conneaut, Ohio, to Walter “Pete” Rolain and Coletta Nault (Wade), Carrie spent the first few years of her childhood in West Springfield, Pennsylvania, before her family moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin. Waukesha would become home for the rest of her life. She graduated from Waukesha South High School, beginning a family tradition shared by her husband, brothers, daughters, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, many nieces and nephews, and eventually her grandson, Tyler. Waukesha was where Carrie built a life filled with family, lifelong friendships, and more than a few unforgettable stories.

Carrie married her beloved husband, Joe, on October 30, 1981, and together they built a life and family over 44 years of marriage. Through all of life’s seasons, they were a team. Of course, Carrie always knew exactly what Joe should be doing, and in true Carrie fashion, she was never shy about letting him know. It was part of the rhythm of their life together and one of the many things that made their marriage uniquely theirs.

Above all, Carrie loved being a mom to her daughters, Erin and Jessica. She did everything she could to give them an amazing upbringing and was completely devoted to their lives, activities, and success. Carrie never missed an opportunity to support her girls whether that meant making homemade Halloween costumes, somehow having dinner ready in the ten-minute window between one daughter coming home from practice and the other heading out, or rearranging her own life to make sure she was there whenever they needed her. She was their biggest supporter and the person they could always count on.

Carrie poured so much of herself into raising Erin and Jessica, teaching them to work hard, stand up for themselves, love deeply, and never give up on the people and things that mattered most. No matter how old they became, she never stopped being their mom - loving them fiercely, worrying about them endlessly, and always wanting the very best for them. So much of who they are today is because of the mother she was.

Then came Tyler. Being Tyler’s Mema brought Carrie a whole new kind of joy. She adored her grandson, celebrated his accomplishments, followed his sports, and was incredibly proud of the young man he was becoming. Tyler grew up knowing Mema was always in his corner - loving him, cheering him on, and, of course, spoiling him at every opportunity she got. Their bond was incredibly special, and anyone who knew them knew that.

Carrie’s competitive spirit was legendary. She played softball, bowled in her younger years, and could play a mean game of pool. She also loved bingo, where her running commentary was often just as entertaining as the game itself. Whatever Carrie was doing, she made it more fun simply by being there.

Carrie also had an incredible talent for creating beautiful things. She spent her career as a seamstress specializing in high-end drapery and upholstery, and her craftsmanship was so exceptional that her work was featured in interior design magazines. That same creativity carried into her garden, where she loved growing her own vegetables, tending to her flowers, and taking pride in the spaces she created around her home. Whether with fabric, flowers, or anything in between, Carrie had a gift for making things special.

And then there was her cooking. Carrie was an exceptional cook, the kind whose food became part of the family’s memories. Her kitchen was a place where people gathered, recipes became traditions, and food was one of the many ways she showed her love. If Carrie was cooking, you knew you were going to eat well.

She also loved to travel and always seemed to be planning her next adventure. There was usually a trip on the calendar and something new to look forward to, whether it was a family vacation, a spring break with Tyler, or an adventure somewhere she had never been before. She even traveled all the way to Australia to watch Jessica play softball, because for Carrie, some of the best adventures were the ones that involved the people she loved. She collected memories everywhere she went and was rarely home from one trip for long before she was thinking about where she wanted to go next.

Carrie had a gift for friendship. Her personality was contagious, and many of her friendships lasted through decades and every chapter of life. But none was more special than the bond she shared with her sister-in-law, Maria. Somewhere along the way, “sister-in-law” stopped being enough to describe their relationship. Maria became the sister Carrie never had. They trusted each other, depended on each other, laughed together, and supported one another through everything. Their bond was truly one of a kind.

She loved being surrounded by her people. She loved holidays, camping, family gatherings, and simply being social. Her humor, opinions, loyalty, and unmistakable personality had a way of turning ordinary moments into stories that would be told for years.

Carrie was a devoted wife, mother, Mema, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend. She celebrated the good times, worried through the difficult ones, gave advice whether you asked for it or not, and loved her people fiercely.

She leaves behind a lifetime of memories, countless stories, and so many people who were lucky enough to know and love her. She will be remembered for her strength, humor, loyalty, unmistakable personality, and above all, the way she loved her people. The life she built and the love she gave will remain with them forever.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 4, 2026, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at New Berlin Ale House in the North Banquet Hall. In a way that feels perfectly fitting for Carrie, the Packers game will be streaming, and everyone is encouraged to wear their Packers gear.

New Berlin Ale House

16000 W. Cleveland Ave.

New Berlin, WI 53151