Carina Schecter (nee Häusler) died in Nashville, TN on February 27, 2025 with her husband and children by her side. Her sudden passing after a brief illness has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of those who loved her.

Carina was born in Petershagen, Germany, just outside of Berlin, on July 21, 1940. She had many joyful memories of her early childhood, including playing in a sand box surrounded by a beautiful rosebush hedge, but that time was also marked by the great hardship of living through World War II.  She survived childhood illnesses, bomb shelters, malnutrition, and displacement as a refugee.  After the war she returned to Petershagen only to have to flee again around age 12 because of the difficulties of living under the repressive DDR regime. Her family had to make the hard decision to leave their home and all of their possessions behind for a better life in the West, but the journey was nerve-wracking.  A refugee once more, she had to stay with various relatives and in cramped conditions, but eventually settled with her family in Braunschweig.  As a young woman, Carina worked at Volkswagen and went abroad to Paris to work as an au pair and to London to work, study, and improve her English. In the summer of 1966, she was traveling with friends in Nice, France when she met her future husband, Roger. They married in Irvington, NJ the next year. Carina and Roger had a daughter, Karissa, and later moved to Nashville, TN where they had their son, Brandon.

Carina was a loving and dedicated wife and mother, and took great joy in her newest role as doting grandmother. She was a true caregiver, always selflessly doing everything she could to make the lives of those around her a bit easier, and her unexpected dry wit brought laughter to every family gathering. Carina was a lifelong learner, not only through coursework, but through reading and inquiry. She was always asking questions of others to better understand any topic, whether it was how to repair a machine or improve a recipe or what technique an artist used to render a beautiful work of art. Carina enjoyed cooking, baking, and gardening, and loved animals. She cared lovingly not only for her own cats and dogs over the years, but often for those of her children, as well. She was passionate about the arts: classical music, ballet, and especially visual art. Carina loved to explore museums everywhere she travelled and spent close to 3000 hours volunteering as a docent at the Frist Museum in Nashville over the past 20 years.  Learning about every new exhibit and sharing her knowledge with the young people who came on her tours brought her great happiness.

Carina is survived by her husband Roger Schecter, son Brandon Schecter, daughter Karissa Schecter, son-in-law Eliab Erulkar, and grandson Isaac.

She was predeceased by her parents Clara and Herbert Häusler and sister Helga Schander.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Frist Museum, Cheekwood Estate and Gardens, or The Nashville Symphony.

Carina's family will be hosting a garden themed gathering to remember and celebrate her life on Sunday May 4th from 2-4pm at 4014 Woodmont Blvd in Nashville, TN. 

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