Carmen Patrick

She had a remarkable life. Carmen was 97 years young, born on May 13, 1928, in Baltimore, MD to Antonio Gutierrez and Gertrude McClain Gutierrez. She moved with her parents to Camaguey, Cuba her father’s homeland when she was 2 years old. Two years later her sister Ana was born in Camaguey. Carmen and her sister grew up in Camaguey and attended Las Teresiana boarding school. The family had a home in the city in Camaguey, and a home on their farm “finca” called San Andres. Carmen enjoyed riding horses and spending time at the farm. When starting high school her parents sent her and her sister to St. Joseph academy boarding school in the US in Hersey, PA. During the summers her parents came from Cuba, and all four of them would travel across the US and even Canada and Mexico. They had quite the adventures.

After high school they went back to Camaguey. Carmen met Baldemar (Nenito) Gonzalez and it was love at first sight for both of them. They were married on June 10, 1951. They had 2 sons and a daughter, Tony, John, and Maria while in Camaguey. They had a wonderful life in Camaguey while enjoying their family, faith, friends, and all that Cuba had to offer.

When Fidel Castro came to power things changed for the worse. Carmen and Baldemar made the difficult choice to leave their beloved Cuba because of communism. They did not want their children to be raised as communist. They asked for and received permission from the communist government to leave Cuba but were only allowed to take 3 articles of clothing each. In 1962 they boarded a plane with their 3 children and arrived in Miami, FL. Carmen was pregnant with her 4th child, and their son Eddie was born in Miami.

After a brief stay in Miami, the family boarded a plane with other Cuban families in November 1962 and flew to Kansas City, MO. They were the first Cubans to relocate to Kansas City, and they were met with a marching band and reporters from the Kansas City Star.

The family was sponsored by the Country Club Congregational Church which proved to be a blessing. The church assisted Carmen and Baldemar with housing, transportation, and finding jobs. The children received toys, clothing, and school supplies. Carmen worked at AT&T for 13 years, thanks in part to the fact that she was bilingual. They built a wonderful life for their family in Kansas City.

After Baldemar passed away in January 1990, Carmen met, fell in love with and married Ray Patrick in November 1991. They had a happy life together for 17 years until he passed away. They traveled, enjoyed family, and being together.

Carmen was loving, strong, generous, classy, funny, and she will be dearly missed. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She had a strong faith in God, the Virgin Mary, the Saints, and prayed daily.

Carmen was preceded in death by her 3 sons, Eddie, Tony, and John Gonzalez, her husband’s Baldemar Gonzalez and Ray Patrick, her sister Ana, nephew Alfre, brother-in-law Alfredo Primelles, and her parents Antonio and Gertrude Gutierrez. Carmen is survived by her daughter Maria Schulte Rice (Ralph), daughter-in-law Debbie Bourn (Jim), and ex-son-in-law Steve Schulte. Her grandchildren: Kimi Robinett (Trent), Cristi Gonzalez, Vinnie Gonzalez (Jennifer), Brandi Gonzalez, Anthony Gonzalez, Michelle Schulte (Monica Henriod), Eddie Schulte (Ashleigh Weston). Her step-grandchildren: Courtney Bourn and Lindsay Serna (Sam). Her great-grandchildren: Hope, Hanna, Katie, Javier, Braxton, Jaxen, Avery, Willa, Sean, Alyssa, Jamoson, Wilder, Kali, Kolbi, Gavin, Miles, and Mason. Step great-grandchildren: Gabby, Michael, and Sammy.

A visitation will take place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Newcomer’s Floral Hills, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64133 from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm.

On Wednesday October 29, 2025, at St. Paul Catholic Church, 21650 W. 115th Terrace, Olathe, KS 66061: a brief visitation will be held at 10:00 am, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Luncheon will be provided at St. Paul Catholic Church following the Mass.

A graveside service will follow the luncheon at Newcomer’s Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.

Heartfelt thank you to the wonderful staff at Homestead Assisted Living of Olathe for their loving care. Their kindness and compassion will always be remembered.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Advanced Hospice of Kansas City, 4700 Indian Creek Pkwy, Overland Park, KS 66207.