Marissa Marie Carstensen, 12, of Elkhorn Dies April 7, 2026; Remembered by Parents Jenna and Dane Uarich, Sisters Leah Carstensen and Berkly Uarich, and Reunited with Father Kevin Carstensen, Grandparents Roger Britten, Deb & Steve Uarich, and Aunt Bootsie.

A Light Too Soon Extinguished – The Life and Legacy of Marissa Marie Carstensen

ELKHORN – April 7, 2026 – In the quiet suburbs west of Omaha, a family’s world shattered on a spring Tuesday. Marissa Marie Carstensen, a 12-year-old girl described by all who knew her as a “bright and beautiful soul,” passed away on April 7, 2026. Her death has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of her parents, sisters, grandparents, classmates, and an entire community that had the privilege of watching her grow.

Though the specific cause of death has not been publicly released by the family, those close to the Carstensen and Uarich households have confirmed that Marissa’s passing was sudden and unexpected. In accordance with the family’s request for privacy during this unimaginable time, no further medical details have been shared. What remains, however, is a stunningly clear portrait of a girl who lived with joy, kindness, and an extraordinary capacity to love.

A Life Filled with Light

Born into a family that adored her from her very first breath, Marissa Marie Carstensen was the kind of child who seemed to radiate warmth. At just 12 years old, she had already developed a reputation among teachers and friends for her empathy – she was the one who noticed when a classmate was sitting alone, the first to offer a hug, the last to leave a friend’s side when they were sad.

“Marissa had a smile that could stop time,” said Laura Hendricks, a fifth-grade teacher at West Elkhorn Elementary, where Marissa attended school before moving on to Elkhorn Ridge Middle School. “You could be having the worst day, and she would just appear next to you with a little note or a drawing. She didn’t do it for attention. She did it because she genuinely cared.”

That instinct to care for others was a thread that ran through every part of Marissa’s short life. Whether she was helping her younger sister Berkly with homework, playing make-believe games with her older sister Leah, or sitting quietly with her mother Jenna while dinner cooked, Marissa was present. Fully, lovingly present.

Family: The Center of Her World

The obituary released by the family paints a poignant picture of a girl deeply rooted in the love of her family. Marissa is survived by her loving parents, Jenna (Dane) Uarich – her mother and stepfather, who helped raise her alongside her biological father’s memory. She is also survived by her two sisters: Leah Carstensen and Berkly Uarich. The three girls were said to be inseparable, often found giggling in their shared bedroom, building pillow forts, or arguing good-naturedly over the last slice of pizza.

But the obituary also notes the profound losses Marissa endured in her young life. She was preceded in death by her father, Kevin Carstensen – a man whom family members describe as having had the same gentle eyes and easy laugh that Marissa inherited. Kevin’s passing, which occurred several years ago, was a deep wound for young Marissa. Yet she carried his memory with her, often speaking of him as her “guardian angel.”

Also preceding Marissa in death were her Grandpa Roger Britten; her grandparents Deb and Steve Uarich; and her special aunt Bootsie (a family nickname for a beloved aunt whose full name has been kept private at the family’s request). The obituary offers a tender image of reunion: “While the loss of Marissa is immeasurable, there is comfort in imagining her embraced by their love once again.”

The Extended Family’s Grief

Marissa leaves behind a wide circle of grieving relatives. Her grandparents Jim and Joan (whose last name has not been publicly disclosed) survive her, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family members. In a statement released through the funeral home, the family wrote: “Each of them carries a piece of her spirit, her laughter, and her love. We are broken, but we are also grateful – grateful that we got to be hers.”

Community Response in Elkhorn

Elkhorn, a thriving suburban community located about 15 miles west of downtown Omaha, is known for its strong schools, family-friendly neighborhoods, and tight-knit sense of community. When news of Marissa’s death spread through social media and local news outlets, the response was immediate and overwhelming.

By the afternoon of April 8, a memorial had sprung up outside Elkhorn Ridge Middle School. Students placed stuffed animals, handwritten letters, and pink roses – Marissa’s favorite color – along the fence near the school’s entrance. A group of eighth-grade girls organized a “Kindness for Marissa” campaign, handing out wristbands that read “Live Like Marissa – Love Big.”

“She was never mean to anyone. Ever,” said Maya Thompson, 12, a classmate and friend. “Even when kids were being rude, Marissa would just say, ‘Maybe they’re having a hard day.’ I want to be more like that.”

The Elkhorn Public Schools district released a statement on April 9, offering grief counselors at both the middle school and the elementary school Marissa had attended. “The loss of a child is a tragedy that reverberates through an entire school community,” said Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Harris. “We are heartbroken alongside the Carstensen and Uarich families. We ask that everyone respect their privacy while we support our students and staff.”

The Power of a Short Life

It is a cruel irony that those who leave us youngest often leave the deepest impressions. Marissa Marie Carstensen lived only 12 years – a fraction of a full lifetime – yet the obituary and the outpouring of grief suggest a girl who packed more love and kindness into her 4,380 days than many do in 80.

“She had dreams, hopes, and a future full of promise,” the obituary reads. Those dreams remain known only to Marissa and those closest to her. Former teachers recall her love of art – she was always sketching horses or designing imaginary dresses. Her mother Jenna once shared with a neighbor that Marissa wanted to be a veterinarian “because animals can’t tell you when they’re hurting, so someone has to be extra kind to them.”

That innate gentleness extended to the family’s two golden retrievers, Bailey and Charlie, who have reportedly spent the days since Marissa’s death lying on her bed, waiting for her to come home.

Funeral Arrangements and Memorials

Funeral services for Marissa Marie Carstensen have been announced by the family through Reichmuth Funeral Home in Elkhorn. Visitation will be held on Monday, April 13, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Elkhorn, followed by interment at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Elkhorn.

The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Marissa Carstensen Memorial Kindness Fund, which will be used to support anti-bullying programs and mental health resources for middle school students in Elkhorn Public Schools. Donation information can be found on the Reichmuth Funeral Home website.

“Marissa would want other kids to feel seen and loved,” her mother Jenna wrote in a private message to close friends, which was later shared with permission. “If we can help one child who feels alone, then her life will have mattered even more than it already does.”

Coping with the Loss of a Child

The death of a 12-year-old girl – a child on the cusp of adolescence, with decades of possibility ahead of her – is a particular kind of grief. Mental health experts note that the loss of a young person often triggers what is called “ambiguous loss” or “disenfranchised grief” – a sense that the future has been stolen, that the milestones (first dance, high school graduation, wedding, children) will never come.

“When a child dies, we grieve not only who they were but who they would have become,” said Dr. Rebecca Lindstrom, a child and adolescent grief specialist at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, who is not involved with the Carstensen family but spoke generally about such tragedies. “The family will need ongoing support – not just for weeks, but for years. Anniversaries, birthdays, the first day of school without her – these will all be triggers.”

The family has indicated they are working with a grief counselor and have asked for privacy as they navigate “this heartbreaking journey.” Friends have set up a meal train and a cleaning rotation to help the Uarich household manage daily life while mourning.

Remembering Marissa

The obituary concludes with words that capture the essence of who Marissa Marie Carstensen was: “Though her time on this earth was far too short, the love she gave and the joy she brought into the world will never be forgotten.”

Those who knew her describe a girl who was neither loud nor shy, but simply present. She was the student who helped clean up without being asked. The sister who let Berkly have the last cookie. The daughter who wrote “I love you, Mom” on sticky notes and hid them in Jenna’s coat pockets. The friend who remembered everyone’s birthday.

At a small vigil held on the evening of April 8 at the Carstensen/Uarich home, over 100 neighbors and friends gathered on the front lawn, holding candles and singing “Amazing Grace.” Marissa’s younger sister Berkly, age 8, clutched a stuffed unicorn – Marissa’s favorite – and whispered into the night: “I’ll take care of your unicorn, sissy.”

A Legacy of Kindness

In the days since her passing, a quiet movement has begun in Elkhorn. Students at Elkhorn Ridge Middle School have started a “Marissa’s Mission” club, dedicated to performing random acts of kindness – leaving encouraging notes on lockers, sitting with lonely classmates at lunch, writing thank-you letters to teachers. The club already has over 60 members.

“It’s what she would have wanted,” said Ethan Parker, 13, a classmate. “She never wanted anyone to feel left out. So we’re going to keep doing that. For her.”

The family has expressed deep gratitude for the community’s support. In a brief message shared via the funeral home, Jenna and Dane Uarich wrote: “We cannot respond to every message right now, but we see them. We feel them. Thank you for loving our Marissa. Thank you for not forgetting her.”

A Final Word

Marissa Marie Carstensen was 12 years old. She loved horses, unicorns, golden retrievers, and her sisters. She had a smile that could light up a room and a heart that seemed too big for her small frame. She dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, of traveling to see the ocean, of growing up and having a family of her own.

None of those dreams will come true – at least not in the way we measure such things. But in the hearts of her parents, her sisters, her grandparents Jim and Joan, her extended family, her classmates, and a community that has wrapped itself around the Uarich home, Marissa’s dream of a kinder world is already taking root.

“She is no longer with us, but her light will continue to shine in every heart she touched,” the obituary reads.

Rest in peace, Marissa Marie Carstensen. You were here too short a time, but you loved deeply, and that love will outlast us all.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Marissa Carstensen Memorial Kindness Fund can be made online at www.reichmuthfuneralhome.com or mailed to Reichmuth Funeral Home, 21901 West Maple Road, Elkhorn, NE 68022. Grief counseling resources for families and children are available through the Elkhorn Public Schools district office at (402) 289-0611.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the loss of a child, support is available through The Compassionate Friends – Omaha Chapter at (402) 391-1211.