Carol Anne Ralphe

Carol Anne (Aucoin) Ralphe, 91, passed away at Memorial Hospital North in Colorado Springs on April 7, 2025. Carol, daughter of Gibbs Alfred Aucoin and Lillian Marie Mahé Aucoin, was born December 26, 1933 in High Point, North Carolina.

Carol lived with her family in North Carolina, Missouri, and Arkansas. She loved to spend time outside with her friends, swimming or climbing the apple tree at their house in Kansas City, Missouri to eat apples and talk. She enjoyed a good conversation and was asked to step out of class on more than one occasion for talking too much. Carol had a wonderful sense of humor which she never lost, even in her last months as her health declined.

Carol attended Mount St. Mary’s Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas and graduated as salutatorian in 1952. She earned an Associate degree from Little Rock Junior College in 1954. Shortly thereafter she moved to Mobile, Alabama while her future husband, James Francis Ralphe (Jim), served in the US Army in the Pacific from 1953 to 1955. Upon his return they married in Mobile in 1955.

Carol was a full-time homemaker and mother, raising two children and moving frequently for Jim’s work. In 1964, Jim’s job with Alcoa relocated them to Surinam, South America, after which they lived and traveled extensively overseas, with the longest durations in Surinam and Perth, Western Australia. They returned to the United States and settled in Pittsburgh in 1979 where they lived over 40 years.

Carol, whose parents played golf often in tournaments during her childhood, later became an enthusiastic golfer with Jim, traveling with their friends to various golf courses over the years. Carol was also an accomplished bridge player and enjoyed the game often in doubles bridge with Jim. She was an avid reader, as well as a crossword puzzle, word game, and mahjong player. She was artistic and decorated her home beautifully with her artifacts from around the world.

Carol was predeceased by her husband of nearly 70 years, Jim, in 2024; her parents; her siblings David Douville Aucoin, Jaclyn (“Jackie”) Aucoin Grodzicki, Joseph Alexander Aucoin and Yvonne Aucoin Stevens. She leaves behind her children: Lisa Ralphe of Valrico, FL and Greg Ralphe (Leslie) of Colorado Springs, CO; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren: Amelia Byl (Austin) and Jules, Marshall and Fiona, of Longmont, CO, and Nathan Ralphe (Lauren), and Kyla and James, of Denver, CO. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their children.

To celebrate Carol’s life, relatives and friends are invited to the funeral liturgy on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 10 AM at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, 8755 Scarborough Drive, Colorado Springs, CO. Following the liturgy, Carol will be laid to rest at noon, beside her husband, at Pikes Peak National Cemetery.

For those who have asked to send flowers to the family in the memory of Carol, please send to either Greg and Leslie Ralphe, 15440 Desiree Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 or send for delivery to arrive on 6/16/25 to St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, 8755 Scarborough Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 89821.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity.