Candida R Colon Larsen

Candida Rosa Colón Larsen affectionately known as Candy and Mama was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 26, 1933 and raised in Ponce, PR. She was the beloved widow of Leonard (Buddy) Larsen, Sr., whom she met at New York City College and later married on April 22nd 1956. On February 26th, 1967 Candy, her husband and young son Lenny moved to St. Croix where she lived for 50 years working as a bookkeeper. During that time the family of three was blessed with the addition of Angela. In 2017 – after Hurricane Maria severely damaged their home - Candy and Buddy moved to West Columbia, SC.

She passed away on April 27, 2025, at home surrounded by loved ones. Mrs. Larsen is survived by her son Leonard E. Larsen Jr (Ingrid Richardson) of St. Croix; her daughter Angela Larsen Bennett (Bralyn P. Bennett Sr.) of West Columbia and adopted daughter Kym Maduro Bunn (Danny Bunn Sr.); granddaughters Bianca Mobley (Tairi Mobley), Lauren Larsen, and Amber Bennett (of West Columbia); grandsons of West Columbia Bralyn P Bennett Jr. (Hannah Bennett), Malik Bennett and Omari Bennett; great-grands Asa Mobley and Selah Mobley; sister-in-law Julia Larsen; nieces and nephews Cathleen Clarke, Annabelle Pinero, Doria Ware, Gary Smail, Jan Smail, Tracy Smail, Bruce Smail, Jon Larsen, Gerville Larsen, Larisa Larsen-Neaves, Migbel Flores Richardson, Eda Flores Richardson, Enrique Gonzalez, Patrick Thelemaque and a host of family and friends on St. Croix and across the United States. Finally, though not related by blood, she leaves behind many Bennett relatives who loved her has their own Mama and made SC feel like home.

Candida was predeceased by her mother Confessora Colón, sister Carmen Belen Flores Richardson, brother Elmo Gonzalez, and aunts Mama Ita Colón and Titi Esmeralda Colón.

Mama was an amazing dancer, spending many nights salsa dancing at the Paladium while in New York. On St. Croix, she took pride in her yard caring for a variety of fruits, flowers and her orchids. She always enjoyed spending time with family and friends and attending the sporting events and activities of her grandchildren and their friends and delighted in all their accomplishments. Her delicious cooking, sense of humor, strong sense of ethics and morality, and motherly unconditional love for all will be missed