Carmen Denise Kuchera passed peacefully on Jan. 12, 2013 in Santa Barbara, CA. Carmen was born Aug. 20, 1964 in South St. Paul, MN. She was the Senior Admissions Counselor at Pacifica Graduate Institute and a certified Life Coach with a Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance. Carmen was an excellent flutist and band leader for the Bossa Blue jazz quartet, a world traveler, an avid hiker and loving mother to her nine-year old Maltese named Sammy. She is survived by her parents Lynn and Evonne Kuchera, her sister Jeanne, brother-in-law Brian and nephew Alexander Sikoff, all of Camarillo, CA. As well her aunts and uncles, Dan Schaefer of St Louis MO, James Schaefer of Crestwood MO, and Phil Schaefer of Sioux Falls SD and their families.