Carmen is no longer with us. As a family, we are starting a new season without her for the first time. Yet Carmen’s spirit—her warmth, her strength, her laughter—will live on, including here in our restaurant. To ensure we never forget her, we are sharing the eulogy that was read at her funeral service.

It is not easy to find the right words when someone like Carmen passes away. Let us try together to honor Carmen with our own memories and gratitude.

"In Carmen Kalbermatten, we have lost a woman of great depth and warmth, whose life was rich with experience."

These are not our words. They are just one of many messages written about Carmen in recent days.

Carmen was born on October 11, 1965, in Törbel, in the living room of her family home in Gruberswasen. The midwife, Ida, lived upstairs and was technically no longer practicing. Nevertheless, she helped bring Carmen into this world in one of the last home births in Törbel. Carmen’s life began in the heart of her family, in the middle of everyday life, in the midst of reality—and that suited her perfectly.

Carmen did not attend kindergarten. In 1972, she started directly in the first grade. Even as a child, she had a mind of her own and a keen sense of justice. Once, she got into trouble with Father Jossen. Out of fear, she stopped going to school and hid in the village. This episode shows how sensitive Carmen was—but also how strong her will could be.

After secondary school in Stalden, Carmen chose the St. Ursula seminary in Brig. There, she laid the foundation for her calling: she wanted to support and nurture children and provide them with a sense of security. For her, this task was never just a job; it was a labor of love.

Her first position took her to Zermatt. For three years, she worked there as a kindergarten teacher, supporting children from a wide variety of countries, languages, and backgrounds. It was a challenge, but with patience and a big heart, she found her way to every single child. To Carmen, every child was a unique individual who deserved to be understood and empowered.

After those three years, Carmen took a big step and traveled to Australia as an au pair. What began as an adventure soon turned turbulent: she had been placed illegally. One day, the police and a television crew suddenly appeared on her host family's doorstep. Marie-Louise, who was with Carmen at the time, eventually helped her find a new host family.

When Carmen returned from Australia, the joy in the family was immense. This joy manifested in a stormy embrace: Carmen jumped toward her father, Gottlieb, with such enthusiasm that he fell into a glass door at home—and it shattered. Today, we might smile at that. But this episode describes Carmen perfectly. Her love was never half-hearted—it was always all-in.

Back in Törbel, Carmen worked as a kindergarten teacher in her own village. That is also where her love story with Amadé began. The two went to a Guggenmusik festival in Herbriggen together. On the drive back, Carmen pulled the car over to the side of the road and asked:

"Shall we share our dinners from now on?"

Amadé simply replied: "Yes, why not?"

With those simple words, their life together began.

When Carmen was 30, she completed her primary school teaching degree but continued to work as a kindergarten teacher. The openness, honesty, and curiosity of children matched her own nature. She poured her heart and soul into this work. It is no surprise, then, that Carmen was the first teacher to integrate a child with a disability into a mainstream classroom. She was convinced that every child has their own place and their own strengths.

Driven by this conviction, she founded the foundation Sonne for children with disabilities. Carmen saw the challenges that families with disabled children face. With the foundation, she wanted to enable these families to find rest, recharge their batteries, and perhaps even take a vacation. In doing so, Carmen created something that will have an impact far beyond her own life.

The love story with Amadé reached a special peak with their wedding. There was never a classic marriage proposal—it wasn't necessary. Amadé dreamed of a wedding in South Africa with elephants standing in an honor guard. To make this happen, he called Bishop Karlen, who was in Africa at the time. However, the Bishop happened to be in Rome. And so it came to be that Carmen and Amadé were married in St. Peter's Basilica on October 19, 1995.

Sports were a part of Carmen's life. She was a track and field athlete, participated in road races, and climbed numerous mountains with the SAC St. Niklaus. From the Castor, Pollux, Breithorn, and Allalin, she looked down into the valley. And anyone who went skiing with Carmen needed fast skis. A special community was born during this time: the "Strassen-Kratzerinnen" (Road Scratchers). This group still meets regularly today.

In the 1997/1998 season, Carmen and Amadé took over the Restaurant Moosalp together. "Ds Moos" became a place where guests, friends, and family felt welcome. Carmen shaped this place with her personality. Many people got to know her here. Many associate the Moosalp with special moments—and at the center of those memories is Carmen.

She found balance in painting. With great attention to detail, she drew a wide variety of subjects, most of all from nature.

Jeremy was born in 1998, followed by Priscilla three years later. For Carmen, family was always the center of her life. Despite working together in the restaurant, it was important to her to spend intentional time as a family. They traveled extensively together and explored the world. Carmen always considered these trips a great blessing.

In recent years, Carmen had to face a serious illness twice. The second time, the path was too steep and her body too tired. On the night of Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Carmen had to—was allowed to—let go.

The stages of her life shaped Carmen. But even more than these milestones, it was her nature that touched so many people. In the last few days, Amadé, Jeremy, Priscilla, and the entire family have received messages from all over the world. They tell of moments when Carmen listened, made people laugh, or simply made them feel important.

The fact that so many of us are here in the church today shows how many people associate a special moment with Carmen. Perhaps we are thinking of a warm conversation on the Moosalp, a loving look in the kindergarten, or a shared ski run.

And perhaps each and every one of us is thinking of their own personal Carmen moment right now.

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