Carlos Joseph Elias

Being raised Catholic our dad was an alter boy at Our Lady of Guadalupe. He loved the extra money he would make from the tips from weddings and baptisms. He enjoyed going to movies when it was 2 movies for quarter and he loved riding the street cars up and down the city, taking a bologna sandwich in case he got hungry. At sixteen dad had odd jobs. He graduated from San Diego High School in 1947 and landed a job at California Laundry and Linen. Somewhere in the that time dad belonged to a car club called the "Bean Bandits". He loved hanging with gang but unfortunately we couldn't find records of how long people were members. But we do have pictures of him, with the gang, the cars, and the trophies. We were able to locate some websites that have pictures with our dad in them, but again no dates.

During his time at the laundry my dad got to know our mom Aggie Ramos. Or should we say remember her because they went the same high school. They dated what seemed like forever. One day his mom finally said to him either marry her or cut her loose. She thought she was a good woman. So my dad went to grab the priest from Our Lady of Guadalupe and went to her house to ask for her hand in marriage. Our mom's dad had already passed away so he asked her brother-in-law. He said yes so of course my mom said yes. They were married on April 30th,1960. Danny came along in September 20th,1962. Against the doctors wishes, mom and dad chose to have another child and here came Terri on December 27th, 1963.

Dad retired from California Laundry in 1978 and went to work for his brother Tony at General Uniform Corp. It was hard work but he truly enjoyed working with his brother. By 2000 dad needed a hip replacement. So he decided to retire for good.

He got to know his neighbors names instead of just waving at them. He did what he wanted, when he wanted to. Little did we know that meant getting hooked on mom's soap opera. Every day he had to be sitting in that chair by noon. For a couple of years it was great, but then mom got sick. Dad was forever the love of her life until she passed away on April 25th, 2003. We worried dad would be lost but he never showed it. He wanted to go to baseball games. He also wanted to go by Amtrak to San Juan Capistrano. He kept up his walks around the neighborhood and couldn't wait to tell us the gossip when we visited.

One thing is for sure dad loved God first. He prayed the rosary everyday and every Saturday evening and Tuesday morning he was at mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He always felt his life was blessed with good health. Even in the end, dad knew something wasn't right but he tried to do the same activities. However on the morning of June 13th, 2012 we had to say our goodbyes. We are ok now because we know our parents are really together forever and we can all smile about that.

He is survived by his son Carlos(Danny) Elias, his daughter Maria(Terri) Hanks, and his son-in-law Steven Hanks. He also shared his love with adopted daughter Tracy Geraghty and her three beautiful daughters Brittany, Brannaca and Ambria. He was also blessed with many nieces and nephews. Dad you are forever in our hearts. Love and miss you already :)

Visitation will be Thursday, June 28, 2012, from 4 to 8 with a Rosary at 6pm at Goodbody Mortuary.

Funeral Mass will be Friday, June 29, 2012, at 10 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, with burial at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery following.

Flowers can be sent from this page and please sign the guest book.