In Loving Memory of Carmen Carmona

Carmen Carmona, 85, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on September 28,

2026, surrounded by the family she loved so deeply.

Carmen leaves behind a beautiful legacy of strength, faith, love, and unwavering devotion to her

family. She was beautiful inside and out, with a heart bigger than words can describe and a

laugh that could light up an entire room. Her presence brought warmth wherever she went, and

her absence leaves a space that can never truly be filled. She will be deeply missed and forever

loved.

Carmen was born on February 16, 1941, in Peña Blanca, New Mexico, to Pablo and Aurelia

Gonzales.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Max Carmona Jr., and her

grandson, Joseph Carmona. Carmen was a devoted wife who loved our father deeply, and the

life they built together was a testament to the enduring love they shared.

Carmen was a loving and devoted mother to her seven children: Micheal, Dominic, Leroy,

Joseph, Victoria, Anna, and Stephanie. She was also a cherished grandmother to her six

grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was a loving and caring mother-in-law to those

who married into her family.

To Carmen, family was everything.

She had a remarkable way of making every one of her children and grandchildren feel special,

important, and unconditionally loved. She always seemed to have a favorite snack waiting, a

warm meal ready, or a place at her table for anyone who walked through her door. Her home

was more than a house, it was a place of comfort, safety, laughter, and peace. It was home to

everyone. Everything Carmen did was rooted in love, and so much of what she did was for her

children and grandchildren.

Carmen had a gift for making friends wherever she went. She loved meeting people, talking to

everyone, and making those around her feel welcome. She could walk into a room and

somehow make it brighter simply by being there. She was generous with her time, her heart,

and her helping hands, and she never hesitated to be there for someone she loved.

Carmen was a phenomenal cook and found great joy in preparing meals for her family. Her

recipes will live on through her children, passed down not only on handwritten pages but

through the memories of countless meals shared with her. Her food was made with love, and

somehow, everything she made always seemed to taste a little better because of it.

She especially loved Christmas, her favorite time of year. She loved decorating, baking,

cooking, and filling her home with the warmth and joy of the holiday season. Those Christmas

traditions and memories will forever be treasured by her family.

Carmen was also incredibly talented with her hands. She loved to crochet and embroider and

created beautiful blankets, and crafts for the people she loved. Every baby born into the family

could count on receiving something handmade by Grandma. Each blanket, baby outfit, and

creation carried something much more precious than the work itself—it carried her time, her

patience, and her love.

Carmen loved to travel with her children and their families. Some of her favorite memories were

made on road trips to Disneyland and Las Vegas. She loved collecting Mickey ears, visiting the

beach, enjoying donuts from Seaside Donuts in Newport Beach, and having a Dole Whip at

Disneyland. She loved going to the casino with her daughters and spending time shopping.

But perhaps what she loved most was simply being together.

She loved when family and friends came to visit. She had a wonderful sense of humor and

could make everyone laugh with the silly words, expressions, and things she would come up

with. She enjoyed watching YouTube and television series with her daughter Anna and would

often call her sons and daughters to talk about what was happening on the shows. Carmen had

no problem watching ahead and revealing what was going to happen—because she simply

could not wait for everyone else to catch up.

Those little things are the memories her family will hold closest.

The phone calls. The laughter. The meals. The holidays. The road trips. The handmade crafts.

The silly stories. The conversations that seemed ordinary at the time but now feel priceless.

Carmen treasured every moment she could spend with her children and grandchildren. Their

happiness brought her immense joy.

Above all, Carmen was the glue that held her family together.

She taught her children and grandchildren what it meant to love deeply, to be kind, to be

generous, and to remain strong through life’s challenges. She reminded us that with faith in

God, there was nothing to fear. She believed there would always be a light at the end of the

tunnel, even during the darkest times.

Her faith was a guiding light throughout her life. She loved God deeply and prayed her rosary

every day. She taught her family, through both her words and the way she lived, that faith,

family, kindness, and love are among the greatest gifts we can give one another.

Carmen gave every part of herself to the people she loved. She was the kind of mother who

loved without conditions, without limits, and without asking for anything in return.

She showed us what a mother was meant to be.

We were incredibly blessed to have her for all the years we did, yet no number of years could

ever have been enough. We knew we would have to say goodbye someday, but we were never

ready for that day to come.

Carmen was a light to everyone who knew her, and although she is no longer here beside us,

that light will never go out. It will live on in her children, her grandchildren, and her

great-grandchildren. It will live on in the recipes she passed down, the crafts she lovingly made,

the traditions she created, the stories we tell, the laughter we remember, and the countless lives

she touched simply by being Carmen.

She embodied so much of what is beautiful in this world—kindness, generosity, faith, strength,

laughter, and above all, love.

Her beautiful smile will remain in our hearts.

Her laughter will continue to echo through our memories.

Her faith will continue to guide us.

Her love will continue to hold us together.

And the legacy she created through her family will carry her forward for generations to come.

Carmen may no longer be sitting at the head of our table, but she will always have a place at it.

She will forever be a part of us.

Until we meet again, Mom.

We love you. We miss you. And we will carry your love with us for the rest of our lives.

Services

A Rosary will be held in Carmen’s honor on Thursday October 15,2026, at 7pm, at St.

JudeThaddeus Catholic Church, 5712 Paradise Blvd.NW.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday October 16, 2026, at 10am, at St. Jude Thaddeus

Catholic Church, with burial to follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, 1900 Edith Blvd. NE,

Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Carmen will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Max.

Family and friends are invited to gather afterward at Victoria and Miguel's home, 525 Guzman

Ave. SW to celebrate Carmen’s life and legacy, share memories, and come together in honor of

the remarkable woman she was.

In lieu of saying goodbye, we choose to say thank you—for the love, the laughter, the

lessons, and the beautiful life you gave us.