She will be loved and missed by surviving husband Ken; children, J.R. (Veronica) Halek of Fort Myers, Florida; Amy (Matt) Fritzer of Missouri City, Texas; Kelly (Tony) Stabile of Conroe, Texas; older brother Dr. Carlos (Cheri) Puig of Sugar Land, Texas; mother-in-law, Vivian (Abramczyk) of Aiken, South Carolina; grandchildren Marlene, George, Emma and Katie; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carlos and Joan, and nephew, Thad.
Carla was born October 12, 1953, in Miami, Florida, to Rev. Carlos and Joan Puig. As the story goes, her older brother, Carlos (“Chuck”), had asked for a baby sister for years and was over the moon when she came into this world. While Carla was in high school, Rev. Puig was called to become a Lutheran Minister and the family packed up and moved north to lovely Racine, Wisconsin. She met the love of her life, Ken, while both were members of the Mariners Drum Corp (Ken was a nationally-ranked snare drummer and Carla a member of the flag guard), and the two married on September 29, 1973. They went on to raise two daughters, Amy and Kelly, and foster son, J.R., in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Vernon Hills, Illinois, before moving south to Houston, Texas, in 1992. As Carla often said, “God Bless Texas!”
Loyal and lifelong Packers fans, in 1997 Ken and Carla, along with a few others, founded the Cheddarhead Pack of Houston (CHPH). Affectionately known among members and Packers circles as “Mama Cheese,” the club was her baby, and she relished as it grew to be one of the largest official fan clubs in the nation. Her enthusiasm and passion for the people, many who became extended family, will never be forgotten, and her legacy will live on in CHPH and the hearts and minds of everyone she interacted with, many of whom she jokingly turned into Packers fans, as well as those hundreds she touched but never met. There will always be a seat for Mama Cheese up front and center.
In addition to CHPH events and of course Packers games during the football season, Carla loved to fish in the Gulf, cruise the Caribbean and watch sports, whether it be baseball, hockey or football. She also adored spending time with her family and granddaughters.
Carla never liked being the center of attention and per her wishes, there will be no public service but a memorial party. A celebration of life party for Carla will be planned in the coming months and we will share details once finalized.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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