Carmen Lydia Rios

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear mother, Carmen Lydia Rios. Despite battling illness for the past several years, our mom lived her life with joy, faith, and optimism. She passed away surrounded by loved ones on Monday, February 10th, 2025, at the age of 80.

Carmen was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on June 22nd, 1944. She moved to New York City with her brother and parents as a young girl, and grew up in the Big Apple. Carmen was always a proud NuyoRican (Puerto Rican raised in New York) and could still navigate the city by memory decades after leaving it, often sharing travel recommendations with friends.

As a young woman, Carmen started her career as a bookkeeper at Marshall, Bratter, Greene, Allison and Tucker, in the entertainment section of the firm. She loved to travel with her friends and cousins, which is how she met her husband Raymond, a sales representative for VIASA, the Venezuelan Airline at the time. They met on a blind date prompted by her travel agent, and married on October 22nd, 1976. They were married for 48 years, during which traveling was one of the things Carmen and Raymond most enjoyed doing together. Early on, they explored other parts of the world including Asia, Europe, and South America. As a young married couple they moved out of the city to Medford, NY, on Long Island, where they had 2 children. Together, they eventually relocated to Washington State in 1989, after having traveled to Hawaii and visiting Olympia on the trip back to NY. Carmen always said they “fell in love with the mountains and trees” here, and the rest was history.

Carmen built a full life in Washington, where she made countless friends over the years. She had a talent for hospitality, easy conversation, and spreading joy through her cooking. She worked for over 10 years as the secretary and bookkeeper of Holy Family School in Lacey, WA. During her time as school secretary, her family joked that she had “spies everywhere.” This was because friends would always tell her when and where they had seen her son or daughter. After moving on from Holy Family, Carmen continued working part time as a bookkeeper for several small businesses in the area. Even well into her retirement, Carmen maintained contact with old friends, and made new friends everywhere she went.

Carmen was an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church from 1989 onward, and was also well known in the communities of St. Michael’s Parish and St. Martin’s Abbey. At Sacred Heart, Carmen volunteered for many years as a Eucharistic Minister, and as a teacher for the kindergarten CCD programs in both English and Spanish. She also volunteered with the Jr and Sr High Youth Ministry when her children were in school.

Carmen will be remembered by all who knew her as a loving, joyful, resilient, and optimistic woman. She was an excellent cook, who made traditional Puerto Rican meals for friends and family, and loved to entertain. New Years, Mardi Gras, and Easter were some of the holidays she loved to host, but the Christmas season was her absolute favorite. Everyone who entered Carmen’s home was invited to share in a meal, and she was always known for greeting her children’s friends with hugs, kisses, and warm plates of food.

Carmen is survived by her husband Raymond Rios, son Anthony Rios, daughter Nicole Rios-Gunn, her children’s spouses, her brother Martin Jr., her beloved grandson (Nicole’s son) Lupe, and multiple Godchildren, and cousins. She was a devoted wife and mother, a very proud Abuela, and a loving sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her, but never forgotten.