Carmen had 9 granchildren including 6 grandaughters-Rebecca, Natasha, Danelle, Tara(deceased), Lauren and Gabriella. She had 3 grandsons-Benjamin, Sean and Liam. she loved them all equally and got a lot of enjoyment and laughter during family gatherings. 
She would never have missed her grandchildrens Christenings, birthdays etc and believed a persons' birthday should be acknowledged on their birthday- not the day before/not the day after. As a result of her family love and values all her children/grandchildren chose to celebrate birthdays, Easter, Xmas together

Mum and Dad raised their children in Waratah. They remained at the Waratah house until purchasing a house at Hamilton South in 2001. Carmen did not sell Waratah house due to sentimental reasons as this was the home she had grown up in and shared many family memories in. 
Mum and Dads' 4th child Robert died at 3 days of age in 1962. They also lost a daughter Nicole in 1995. Mum went through a lot of losses and tragedies during her life but remained a strong person throughout. she would often say 'she had to keep going and get on with life' especially when she had small children to look after. 
Mum loved her family and brought her children up to have strong values and sense of family. she lived for her children.She was always fair and expected her children to treat others with kindness and respect. Mum could be stubborn and when she made her mind up, you knew that was it- no changing her mind. 

Carmen met Thomas Jack McClelland when he was posted to Williamtown Air Base as a young man during his many years service in the RAAF. They married on September 28th 1957. They had 6 children-Maree, Ronald, Fay, Robert(deceased), Margaret and Nicole(deceased)

Carmen worked for the Post Office in Newcastle in her early adult life. She worked as a telephonist. Her job was to type a telegram message from the calls received.

Carmen was born May 8th 1937 in Newcastle to Walter and Priscilla(Ella) Russell. she had 3 older brothers. She lived in Cooks Hill for the first 3 years of her life and then the family moved to Young Street Waratah where Mum remained all her adult life.