Carmen Sandoval Cantu was called home June 29, 2021 after a courageous 13 month battle with cancer. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 6:7. Carmen was a 9+ year breast cancer survivor when she was stricken with lung cancer and leukemia. Carmen battled both cancers with all she had until her body would no longer fight.
Carmen is preceded in death by her father Raul Sandoval, mother Asenet Sandoval, her loving husband Saul Martin Cantu, Sr, her son Raul Richard Cantu and two brothers Benito Sandoval and Raul Sandoval.
Carmen is survived by her son Saul Martin Cantu, Jr and daughter-in-law Cara, granddaughter Cassandra Cortinas and JC, grandson R.J. Cantu and granddaughter Caitlyn Cantu, great-grandchildren Jake Cortinas, Jaythan, Aria & Avery Cantu. Carmen is also survived by her siblings Maggie Sandoval-Flores and J.J. Flores, David and Gloria Sandoval, and Liz and Andy Anzaldua as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Carmen spent her professional career working for the United States Postal Service retiring in 2005 after 38 and a half years of services. Carmen was eternally grateful for the opportunities the USPS provided for her and her family as well as the lifelong friendships she made.
Carmen was a proud alum of Roy Miller high school. Carmen was a life long learner and was extremely proud to have graduated from Corpus Christi State University with a Bachelors of Business Administration degree. She mentored countless others to peruse higher education as she saw education as the key to success and advancement.
Carmen was a member and ordained elder of El Divino Salvador Presbyterian Church (USA). Carmen considered all her brothers and sisters in Christ part of her extended family and she really missed seeing her church family over the past year during the pandemic.
Carmen had an adventurous soul which led to travels across the country and Europe. She continued to plan the next leg of her cross country tour with her long time friend Elodia Fernandez. In her younger days Carmen loved to run and as she got older she would reminisce of the days when she could head out on the open road and run for miles. As she was no longer able to run she enjoyed long walks especially on cool days in Chandler, AZ when visiting her family. She spent countless days on the Frio River and planned to tube the river when she was 75 but was interrupted by hurricane Harvey.
Carmen’s wish was to die in the home she and her husband built to raise their family 40+ years ago. Her last day on earth was a restless day but she was able to sit on her back porch one last time and enjoy the beauty of her backyard.
Visitation will be July 8 at 6:00 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be July 9 at 10:00 a.m. followed by internment at Memory Gardens Cemetery. All services will be held at El Divino Salvador Presbyterian Church, 2238 Belton St, Corpus Christi, TX 78416.
