Carmen Vitela

January 16, 1949 - January 13, 2021

Carmen Santiago Vitela, the loving mother of six children, passed away at the age of 71.

Carmen was born on January 16, 1949, in her family ranch "La Mesa" in the state of Jalisco,

Mexico. When Carmen was 16 years old, she immigrated with her parents, Rosa de Santiago and Blas

Santiago, and her siblings, to the Salinas, California area.

The Vitela family later settled in Casa Grande, Arizona where they raised their six children. Carmen was a

homemaker who enjoyed cooking and making her family's favorite foods and salsas. When her youngest left the nest, she began working for the Casa Grande Elementary School District cafeteria. She enjoyed being

a working woman and had fond memories of her time there.

Carmen loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She loved catching up with her family on

Facebook and calling them regularly. Like her mother, she loved listening to music very loud at her home and liked to dance. Carmen enjoyed dining out with her family, and always insisted on ordering an appetizer.

She loved getting her nails and hair done at the salon, red being her favorite nail polish.

Carmen also loved traveling to Mexico to visit her family's ranch and spending time with her extended family.

She had a great sense of humor; she loved to laugh and make others laugh as well. More recently, Carmen

became more adventurous as she wanted to fly everywhere by plane and enjoyed rides at Disneyland.

Carmen made new friends everywhere she went and loved talking to people. She is remembered for her generosity and kindness with everyone she met. She will greatly be missed by all of us, her family, and her friends.

Carmen was preceded in death by her husband, Jose Vitela; her mother, Rosa de Santiago; and her brother, Constancio de Santiago.

She is survived by her six children; Carmen Woodard, Hilda Ortega, Elizabeth Vitela, Patricia Martinez, Jose Vitela Jr., and Miguel Vitela; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her father, Blas Santiago; her nine siblings; and several nieces and nephews throughout Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 12, 2021, at Mountain View Cemetery in Casa Grande. at 10:00 am.