Carmen Franco Gamez

Carmen was preceded in death by her husband, John Sr. in 1998, and granddaughter, Marissa Gamez, in 1997.

Carmen is warmly remembered as a loving mother to her three children, Debby Gamez, John Gamez, Michael Gamez and daughter-in-law Yolanda Gamez. She is also fondly remembered as a beloved grandmother to her four grandchildren Adriana Darnley, Kristin Torres, Michael and Daniel Gamez, and brother Frank Franco Sr.

Fitting for the daughter of migrant farm workers born and raised in California’s fertile farmlands, food plays a large part of Carmen’s legacy. After graduating from San Joaquin Memorial High School and receiving an accounting degree from 4 C’s College, she went on to nourish her family and community as a homemaker and later a restaurateur at the family restaurant Johnny’s in Parlier, California. At home, her kitchen was the site of countless memories over the decades, serving as the appointed gathering space for family celebrations of holidays and birthdays. Gathering together to prepare dozens of tamales each Thanksgiving or Christmas was a time-honored tradition in her home.

Carmen was also a tenacious soul who loved to travel. Throughout her life she traveled to Washington State, her ancestral Mexico, and even as far as Medjugorje, a pilgrimage site of apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Her tenacity and bravery in travel lives on in her children and grandchildren, who have embarked on travel throughout the U.S. and as far away as Russia and across the former Soviet Union. As was her nature as a guardian and protector, Carmen relished her role as the appointed bestower of blessings and prayers for the safety of her loved ones embarking on travel.

Despite physical limitations later in her life, Carmen stayed active spiritually and religiously. A devout Catholic and follower of Christ, she was a model to her family and friends of steadfast faith and ceaseless gratitude for life’s little blessings. She sustained her loved ones through constant intercessory prayer and was often in silent meditation with her rosary. She instilled in her children and grandchildren the importance of faith and a relationship with the Lord, even in times of hardship and heartbreak. She never failed to remind that times of joy and prosperity were likewise gifts of Divine Providence. The faith she inspired in her family and friends will now bring them comfort as they mourn the loss of their beloved mother, grandmother, and friend.

A lifelong lover of dance and music, frequently found at Fresno’s historic Rainbow Ballroom in her youth, Carmen is now dancing with the angels, no longer limited by frailty or age. She is free and unencumbered to dance, roam and enjoy the promises of eternal life in Christ. Even from her heavenly home, she will remain the beloved guardian and intercessor of all who were blessed to know and love her.

A Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at The Shrine Of Saint Therese on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.