Maria del Carmen Alarcon

On January 23, 2021, our family gave our Nana, Maria del Carmen Carlos Alarcon, back to God. Carmen was born February 22, 1934, to Arnulfo Carlos and Eduarda Maynez Carlos in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, México. Carmen was the second youngest and the last surviving of nine siblings. She was an adventurous and kind young woman who, in 1952, met the love of her life, Manuel Alarcon Jr. A year later, she married Manuel and had three beautiful daughters, Yvonne, Hilda, and Marissa. Carmen and Manuel lived together happily for more than 50 years, until Manuel succumbed to cancer in 2004. Carmen was an elegant and gentle mother and grandmother who loved to cook, dance, play loteria, and tell jokes. She worked as a cook at El Paso High School for nearly three decades and loved working with students. In 1984, she achieved a life-long dream and became a U.S. citizen, making it a point to vote in every election up until her last years. In addition to being a sophisticated beauty, she was benevolent to strangers and generous with her charity to those in need. She was a faithful woman and spent her final years surrounded by family, laughter, love and by her loyal companion Kibu, her poodle. Nana is survived by her three daughters and son-in-law —Yvonne Reyes, Hilda Alarcon, and Marissa & Francisco Villegas — her nine grandchildren and spouses —Steve, Bunny & Alex, Anthony & Sujehy, Michael & Nancy, Christopher & Brenda, Nicole & Michael, Matthew, Alejandra & Alvaro, and Anacristina — and her greatgrandchildren—River, Reef, Rain, Alden Anthony, Zachary, Christopher Jr., Maia Zen, and Emiliano Manuel. She is also survived by close family Ernie Parra and Steve Reyes, Sr. Finally, our family would like to say a special thanks to Sofia, Rosie, Sandra, Nena and Raquel, the caretakers who treated our mom with dignity and respect in her later years. Nana, you will always be in our heart. We know that as an ancestor, you will continue to guide and teach us. We love you; “canta, no llores.”