Carmen Miramontes

With deep love and great sorrow, we announce the passing of Carmen G. Miramontes, known affectionately as Carmelita La Chona, who passed away peacefully on May 25, 2025, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at the age of 92.

Carmen was born on April 1, 1933, in Doña Ana, New Mexico, to Jose and Antonia Garcia. She was one of eleven children, part of a large and loving family rooted in faith and service. On July 16, 1949, she married the love of her life, Salvador Miramontes, with whom she shared 65 devoted years of marriage until his passing in 2014.

A nurturing wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Carmen dedicated her life to her family and community. Alongside her husband, she served the Las Cruces Public Schools as a foster grandparent, helping elementary students learn to read and write. Her gentle guidance and dedication left a lasting impression on countless young lives.

Carmen’s talents extended beyond the classroom. She had a deep love for sewing and was well known for her joyful spirit, often singing and dancing with her loved ones. Her unwavering faith in God was a guiding light throughout her life, as she led by example, offering compassion, love, and kindness to all who knew her. A true matriarch, Carmen was known for her generosity, her nurturing heart, and her unforgettable homemade tortillas—a cherished tradition that brought the family together.

She is survived by four of her siblings: Alice (Rudy), Maryann, Helen, and Chema Garcia. Carmen leaves behind seven of her ten beloved children: Salvador Miramontes Jr., Margaret Yanaga (Tim Yanaga), Joe Miramontes (Grace Miramontes), Anna Flores (Oscar Flores), Barbara Ochoa, George Miramontes, and Gloria “Cha Cha” Miramontes. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, along with many extended family members whom she held close to her heart.

Carmen was preceded in death by her parents Jose and Antonia Garcia, her twin brother Luis Garcia, brothers Raymond and Kiko Garcia, sisters Julia, Antonia, and Lucy, her husband Salvador Miramontes, and her beloved children Patsy Miramontes, Johnny Miramontes, and James Garcia.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Johnny Miramontes, Charles Miramontes, Alexandro Miramontes, Keanu Martinez, Oscar Flores, and Larry Trujillo. Honorary pallbearers include Jose Miramontes Jr., Steven Ochoa Jr., Troy Flores, and Loreena Martinez.

A visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church, with the Rosary and Funeral Mass to follow as we come together in love and remembrance of Carmen’s extraordinary life.

Carmen was the heart of her family, a guiding light whose faith, warmth, and strength will live on in the lives of all who were blessed to know her. We will forever miss our star.