Carmen Guadalupe Mazzei

Carmen went to sleep unexpectedly on Wednesday January 4th surrounded by her husband and children. She was born on June 5, 1933 in Santa Maria, CA to Juan and Mary Rodriguez. Carmen was the third oldest of thirteen siblings. Twelve girls and one boy. From oldest: Delores Garay, Angel Perez , Carmen Mazzei , Paula Alverez, Aurthor Rodriguez, Guadelupe Sanches, Cruz Rodriguez, Rita Sinclair, Eleanor Rodriguez, Grace Hart, Alma Steadman, Mary Helen Steadman and Nancy Pequeino. Carmen is survived by her husband Enrico S. Mazzei of 55 years and her children Chris Mazzei and wife Stacy, Ericka Mazzei Brewster and husband Mike, Mike Mazzei and wife Tamara along with grandchildren Tanya, Courtney, Mike Jr, Chris Jr, Kiawna, Cassidy, Tara, Ryan, Jordan, Lala, Levi , Bella, Ryan and Travis. Great grandchildren include Alana, Rex and Patrick. Grand kids in-law include Jeff Berg and Seth Hazdovac. Carmen was a role model to many and to strangers a beautiful hearted woman. In life Carmen loved outside sports, most notably snow skiing and water skiing and could often see her big smile as she screamed across the water on her Sea-doo. Carmen was a big Fresno State football bulldog fan and often traveled to home and away games to cheer her bulldogs with husband Enrico. She loved the simple things life offered and tried to keep clear of complexity. Carmen spent twenty years of her life working at Blair learning center helping mentally challenged children and adults and had a special place in her heart for every one of them. Carmen was a spiritual woman who placed God first knowing his comforting hand held her's through life's journey. Carmen enjoyed her world travels with husband Enrico and was a very active woman who enjoyed staying fit at the gym, water skiing, snow skiing, motorcycle riding and camping. She also had a creative side which blessed her family and friends with beautiful oil paintings with the help of her dear friend Luigi and a variety of crocheted items. Carmen was also a volunteer at her church for local homeless shelters to help feed the homeless and would throughout the year crochet hats and mittens to be distributed to the homeless and cancer patients at CBCC. The most important thing in Carmen's life was her family and she loved her kids with a deep passion. She had a big heart and was truly loved by many and was always concerned for everyone else. Carmen was proud of her Mexican and Native American heritage and often enjoyed great sounds of mariachi music while dinning or cooking her favorite Mexican dishes for others to enjoy and enjoyed the local Pow-Wow to watch some grand kids dance to Native American song. Carmen fought and won many health battles and her last three and a half years she was under a high level of quality care from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas in which she was able to enjoy a longer blessed quality and quantity of life. Please contact a family member if interested in making a donation in Carmen's name to MD Anderson to aid in the fight against cancer. Visitation for Carmen will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery January 15 from 4 - 8 p.m. at 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306. A memorial service will be held at Hillcrest Seventh Day Adventist Church January 16 at 10 a.m., 2600 Kenwood Rd. Bakersfield, CA 93306/Optional entrance: 2801 Bernard Street, a procession to follow for graveside service at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, 9101 Kern Canyon Road. "All God's angels come to us disguised" - James Russel Lowell