“The Queen” Carla Talarek passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 12, 2023. She was 44 years young. Carla was born with cerebral palsy. Despite her physical limitations, she made the most out of life. She was born in Dayton, Ohio on May 18, 1979 to Diane and Dennis Talarek. She graduated from HMS school in Philadelphia and subsequently lived at The Mary Campbell Center in Wilmington, Delaware.
During her active years, Carla enjoyed skiing using a modified sled and being helped by hot men. She traveled to places such as: New Hampshire, Maine, Colorado, and British Colombia. She loved riding horses and driving her powerchair. She and the rest of the family made several road trips to Disney World. Bethany Beach, Delaware was a home away from home, and she attended Eagle Springs Camp many times. She kept meticulous journals about her adventures and would share with everyone.
During her time at The Mary Campbell Center, she became an expert using assistive technology. Her computer and Alexa allowed her to do so many things including word search, trivia games, horoscopes, and FaceTime. She used Alexa to change her several sets of room lights many times during the day. It would drive her friends and nurses crazy! Her favorite phrases to describe her mood were “I feel feisty” and “I am unstoppable!”
Most of all Carla loved being around and helping others. Her smile was infectious, and her positive attitude filled the room. She enjoyed reading to grade school students and encouraged others at HMS school to use their communication devices. We will remember her daily weather reports, weekly inspirational messages, and speeches.
She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will go on and she is watching down on all of us. Carla is survived by her parents, Diane and Dennis; her brother, Chad; and her dogs, Daniel and CJ.
A viewing will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 18th, at the McCrery & Harra Funeral Home (3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803). Services will be held at the same location at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 19th. Interment will follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to The Mary Campbell Center, 4641 Weldin Road, Wilmington, DE 19803 or HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, 4400 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
The service will be livestreamed here: https://my.gather.app/remember/carla-talarek
