Carol J Hartwood (nee Chapman) passed away unexpectedly at her beloved home in Taos, New Mexico on August 3rd, 2026. Carol was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1950 and grew up the eldest of three sisters. Always tenacious, the day after she married her former husband, Paul Krispinsky, she moved out west to New Mexico. After settling in Taos, Carol raised her three children, of whom she was very proud. She made childhood a fun adventure for her kids and always made sure they felt celebrated and loved. She continued this tradition with her grandchildren. As a young parent, she was also an entrepreneur, running a fabric store and later designing and selling a clothing line. After her children were grown, she went back to school and obtained her college degree.

Throughout her life and various occupations, at heart Carol was a passionate artist, working with screen printing, pottery, and multimedia. She treasured animals, chocolate, dancing, and stories- written, cinematic, or personal. She was known for her style, her fabulous purses and jewelry, and her larger-than-life personality. She could strike up a conversation with anyone. Although she enjoyed debating many topics, she was quick to laugh. Carol will be dearly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents Viviet and Frederick Chapman. She is survived by her son Sean (Rebekah) Krispinsky and her grandchildren Ivan and Ana, her daughter Megan (Rebecca) Krispinsky, her daughter Natalya (Marc) Wilke and her step-grandchildren Isaac, Logan, and Dustin, her sisters Gail (Larry) Mied and Sheila (John) Palmer, and her nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to be made to Taos Feral Feline Friends.