Connie Perez

Perez, Connie Carranza, 85, entered Heaven peacefully on March 20, 2019 after a very brief battle with cancer. Connie is preceded in death by the love of her life Eduardo Perez, their loving son Mark Perez, parents Simon and Jacinta Carranza, sister Carmen Camacho, brothers Cornelio Carranza, Simon Carranza, III, Alfonso Carranza, Angel Carranza, Simon Carranza, Jr., Raul Carranza, and sister Hermenia Yanez. Connie is survived by sister Victoria Cañez, daughter Velma Perez, son Michael Perez (Grace), grandsons Robertino Perez and Jacob Perez (Priscilla), great-grandchildren Jacob, Fabian, Mia, Emily, and Anthony. Connie is also survived by sisters-in-law Connie Carranza, Amelia Carranza, Dora Perez, Bertha Perez and many, many nephews and nieces as well as many, many dear friends. She truly loved each one of us and this world is already missing this incredibly loving, giving, strong, faithful, and funny lady.

Connie began working at a very young age at various restaurants and diners such as the Varsity, Pioneer, and Pancho's then Lerner's Clothing Store. Later in life after marriage and children, she began her private daycare business at home where she helped raise 317 children over many years. She did this with such a loving heart preparing three home cooked meals daily for her kids, playing outdoor games like Hide N Seek, baseball and soccer. During this time she also enjoyed making coffee and breakfast for the parents who would bring their children early. She could have written a large volume book with all the stories of her kids! Years later her kids became adults and it wasn't unusual for many of them to bring their own children to meet Nana. Connie managed to raise her own children, take care of her husband and home without missing a step. Her devotion and energy had no limits as her family was her passion.

Connie was without a doubt the best cook around. She made all her dishes with that Special Touch that only she had. Her Tamales, Pozole, Menudo, and Viscochuelos were enjoyed by hundreds upon hundreds of people over the years and nothing brought her more joy than serving those dishes to us all. She had a knack for convincing anyone who walked into her kitchen that yes they were hungry and would not leave her home without eating!

The stories she told about her family events and history were incredible. She told them with so much detail and animation that you couldn't help but be drawn in and feel that you were living in that time. So many of us will miss this beautiful quality of hers!

More important than anything else was how Connie brought so much happiness and peace to everyone around her. She always had time to listen to you and make you feel like you were the most important and loved person in the world. No problem was too big for her to discuss with you. Her love and compassion for each one of us had no boundaries.

Connie's legacy of love, compassion, courage, and strength will live on in each one of us blessed to have had her in our lives. May you rest peacefully forever after knowing that your life was well done and you will be missed tremendously in this life.

Connie's personal message to her family and friends a couple of weeks before her passing: "I had a beautiful life with the love of my life and I have no regrets. I am sorry but I have to leave soon and you all will be alright. Remember how much I love you.