Carmen M. Yambay

Carmen Maria Yambay, age 89, formerly of Honolulu, HI passed away peacefully on October 30, 2023. She was surrounded by family including her younger sister, Christina, who she affectionately called “Sis” and her Goddaughter whom she personally named Nancy. They were both her caretakers the last years of her life.

Carmen was born August 25, 1934 in Manhattan, NY. She let everyone know she was a “Leo”, loved the sun, and being a Native New Yorker. After completing high school, she worked various jobs. Carmen thrived in the hustle and bustle of New York City. She worked for many years selling men’s cologne in Macy’s Department Store on 34th Street. She was a top seller, won numerous letters, awards and trips. She met Paco Rabanne, a famous designer who personally thanked her for all her endeavors.

Her favorite undertaking was participating in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It wasn’t uncommon for her to find the cameraman, smile, and wave. Her family was thrilled to see her on television. She even took her sister, Christina one year.

Carmen was a magnetic force that people were drawn too. She had looks, personality, drive, and was fiercely independent. Carmen loved to travel.

After retiring from Macy’s, she moved to her paradise. Also known as Honolulu, Hawaii. She swam daily and enjoyed her happy hour. Carmen was the life of the party, she danced all night especially to salsa music. Her larger than life, charismatic, outgoing personality will be missed.

She was a devout Catholic, prayed every day and attended mass each Sunday. The most important role to her was being a mother. She loved her son. It brings us comfort to know she has been reunited with her only child, Thomas Coto, Jr., who predeceased her in 1995.

The last years of her life she suffered from Parkinson’s disease. Even as the disease took its course Carmen would often say “I lived a beautiful life, like Frank Sinatra said “I did it my way.”

Carmen is survived by her sisters Delia Sifre of Newburgh, NY; Christina Pineiro of Plattekill, NY; and her brother Alfonso Yambay (Minerva) of Cornwall, NY and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews whom she adored. She was predeceased by her parents Celestina and Louis Yambay, sisters Doris Yambay, Virginia Yambay, Anna Carillo and Rosie Yambay.

Services will be on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at David T. Ferguson Funeral Home, 20 North St., Washingtonville, NY 10992 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM. Church services will be at Our Lady of Fatima, Rt. 32, in Plattekill, NY on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PO Box 4777, NY, NY 10163. www.michaeljfox.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.davidtfergusonfh.com for the Yambay family.