Armando Perez Carvajal, 39, of Kenner for the last several years, originally from the village of La Pimienta in the municipality of Lolotla, Hidalgo, Mexico, died November 9 in New Orleans. For the past 13 years he worked in the tree care industry, building up a reputation as a hard worker with climbing, cutting and trimming skills few possessed. Perez Carvajal most recently dreamed of working in Florida to clean up after Hurricane Michael devastated the urban forests of Gulf Coast communities and was organizing a crew to work for FEMA when he died suddenly. Prior to coming to the United States and settling in Kenner, he studied at a technical school in Hidalgo and received a degree to work as a technician in animal husbandry or the care of domestic animals. Armando also spent time in furniture sales near his hometown before pursuing better opportunities to help Louisiana residents recover from Hurricane Katrina. Before going out on his own, he worked 11 years for ABC Tree as a bucket truck operator, clearing utility lines of branches growing too close.
He leaves behind to mourn him his companion and the mother of their 6-month old boy, Isabel Cristina Romero Gamez, with whom he had been living since 2016. Armando enjoyed his time off watching their son Oliver Gael Perez grow and helping Isabel during the sleepless nights of a baby’s infancy, often singing to him to put him back to sleep, despite having to wake up early the next morning to begin the difficult, hot work of climbing trees. Isabel said that Oliver was “su vida” or Armando’s life and that he was an excellent provider and father, who brought his Mexican culture into their home by preparing Mexican cuisine such as nopales, rich vegetable soups and quesadillas on the weekends.
Besides his young son, Perez Carvajal is survived by two other sons, Carlos Manuel Perez Cerecedo and Jesus Perez Cerecedo, his mother, Eugenia Carvajal Hernandez, also of La Pimienta, Lolotla, Hidalgo, his brothers Benjamin, Martin, Ricardo and David, his grandmother Gumecinda Hernandez Morales and many other cousins, nieces and nephews. Armando was divorced once from his wife in Mexico and the mother of his first two children, Bernalda Cerecedo Martinez, and was estranged from his second wife, Mayelin Izquierdo Silva, of Florida. He was pre-deceased by his father, the late Zacarias Perez Perez.
Funeral services are being handled by Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie. Beginning at 6 p.m. and continuing until 10 p.m., Friday, November 23, relatives, friends of Armando, co-workers, former employees of ABC Tree and those who attended church with him and Isabel at Immaculate Conception Church in Marrero are invited to come and give final respects to loved ones. Visitation will resume Saturday, November 24, at 9 a.m. There will be a Rite of Christian Burial held at 10 a.m. Burial will be in his home state of Hidalgo, where the Perez family is handling final arrangements. A date for burial is not yet determined. Condolences may be left for the family at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.
