Maria Del Carmen Lopez Obituary (1947 - 2023)

Maria Del Carmen Real Lopez: June 11, 1947 - June 9, 2023 It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Maria Del Carmen Real Lopez. Carmen, Mary, my Carmen, or 'ama Carmen, as we lovingly knew her, passed away on June 9, 2023, just two months after the departure of her beloved brother, Manuel. Born in Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico on June 11, 1947, Carmen was the cherished daughter of the late Manuel Flores Lopez and Juana Real Dimas, and a beacon of love, strength, and support to her parents, her siblings, Manuel, Fernando, Beatriz, Luz Elena, Arnulfo, and Margarita Real Lopez, and all of the children and grandchildren of her siblings. Embracing the promise of a new life, Carmen and her family emigrated to the USA on April 11, 1962. She attended grammar school in Westmorland, CA, and Brawley Union High School. Her heart and love for home and family in Mexico never faltered, as she would return to her hometown of Chapala, Jalisco as much as she could. In her devotion and faith, Carmen found strength and solace. A devout Catholic, she believed in love, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal peace. In the 1970s Carmen was involved in a faith-centered youth group called Pastoral Juvenil and traveled to Colombia to study religion. She was a woman of faith who nurtured her family with that same devotion of unconditional love and unwavering strength. With a heart full of compassion and a spirit that never tired, Carmen spent much of her life as an agricultural worker for Uyechi Farms, Bud Antle and Norton Farms, while also serving in various packing sheds. Her greatest contributions were to her family. While Carmen never had children of her own she was a loving caretaker and a second mother to her family, helping her parents raise not only her siblings but also her nephews, nieces, and all of those from the first US-born generation of the Lopez family. Being the firstborn, Carmen set the path for all who followed her. Her love and sacrifice made possible the dreams of her entire family. Her final employment was as an in-home supportive services worker, providing tender care to her nephew Marcos, with whom she shared an unbreakable bond from the time he was born and all through her life. Carmen will be remembered by all of us as more than a sister or aunt. She was our mother, our matriarch, our friend, our anchor, our guiding light, and a constant source of love and support. As a pillar of the Lopez family, her loss is deeply felt. Yet, we find comfort in knowing that she is now free from pain after nearly three years of battling the impacts of COVID-19. She is at peace surrounded by love in heaven with her parents and brother who went before her. A memorial service will be held at Frye Chapel & Mortuary, 799 South Brawley Avenue, Brawley, CA on Monday, June 19, 2023. The family viewing will begin at 5:30 PM, and friends are welcome to join at 6:00 PM. We invite family, friends, and those whose lives Carmen touched to join us in commemorating her life and legacy. As we mourn her departure, we celebrate the immense love, unwavering dedication, and nurturing spirit that defined Carmen's life. Rest in peace, Carmen. We love you, and you will always live in our hearts.