Carmen Cervantes' Obituary
On the morning of December 11, 2022, Carmen Cervantes of Piedmont transitioned into the afterlife at the age of 92. Carmen was born in Houston, Texas on April 16, 1930, to Guadalupe and Luciana Lopez.
Carmen graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1949. She attended the University of Houston majoring in Education. Carmen loved working in education and became a secretary at Janowski Elementary School. Known as a trailblazer, she fought for Hispanic rights and equality in the community. At the time of segregation, there was very little available to the Hispanic community. She worked tirelessly to achieve her goals of helping the people, and especially the children in the community. She was instrumental in setting up two medical clinics for Hispanics. These two clinics are very popular and still in use today. In addition, Carmen was very active in the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and became president of the Houston Chapter in 1957. She remained active while in Houston, until she fell in love with an old family friend visiting family over the weekend. They were engaged to be married after just one week!
Carmen married Tony Cervantes on January 14, 1967. They had two children, Ana and Louise. They resided in Piedmont.
Carmen was an executive secretary for Kaiser Engineers and an accountant for Positively Electric both in Oakland. She was an active member of St. Leo’s Church in Oakland. She enjoyed providing service to the church by becoming a Eucharistic Minister. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1998, she continued her ministry to the sick and homebound with much joy. She shared this joy with the parish and spent many hours visiting parish members and friends.
Carmen loved gardening, reading, listening to oldies music, visiting family in Texas, and spending time with her family. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. Her greatest joy was having a family. Everyone who knew her loved to hear her stories.
She is preceded in death by her husband Tony Cervantes; her parents Guadalupe and Luciana Lopez; her grandsons Michael Anthony Cervantes and Jean Kalmar; her brothers John Lopez and Nick Lopez; her sister Rosario Camarillo.
Carmen is survived by her daughters Ana Maria Kalmar and Louise Corson; son in laws Cliff Kalmar and Will Corson; grandchildren William, Isabel, and Joseph; her sister Cruz Ramon; and a large extended family in Texas who knew her as a peacemaker and caregiver.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that you donate in memory of Carmen Cervantes to:
St Leo the Great
176 Ridgeway Ave.
Oakland, Ca 94611
Or
Lulac National Education Scholarship Fund
LNESC.org
What’s your fondest memory of Carmen?
What’s a lesson you learned from Carmen?
Share a story where Carmen's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Carmen you’ll never forget.
How did Carmen make you smile?