Jose Guadalupe Camarena

Mr. Jose Guadalupe Camarena was better known as Don Lupe, with respect from his family, friends, employees, and business associates. He was born in the outskirts of Jesus Maria, Jalisco, Mexico in the ranching community known as “Comunidad el Ranero” on May 23rd, 1932—Son of his late parents Jose Maria Camarena and Maria Leon Camarena.

Don Lupe was raised in humble beginnings, working on the family farm barefoot only owning one pair of nice sandals that he wore on Sundays to attend mass. He would later marry his childhood sweetheart his late wife Mrs. Maria Soledad Camarena on November 11, 1953, at 5:00 am. They would later migrate to Mexico City in hopes of building a better future for their nine children.

Don Lupe would later immigrate to the USA being part of the Bracero Program from 1960 until 1964 when the program was suspended. He was very proud and thankful for the manual labor he took on us during those years. He boastfully recounted stories of those years to his children and grandchildren, working in many states from California, Michigan, Colorado, New Orleans, and Arkansas. Picking thousands of vegetation from almonds, oranges, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, apples, peaches, cotton, and corn. He was a proud man of his physical labor; stating many times that even though it was hard work it was honest work that helped feed his family back home.

Don Lupe always aspired to fulfill his life dream of one day achieving the American Dream, so when the opportunity later in life came for him to migrate with his late eldest son Jose Camarena to Houston, TX. He promptly made the move with the family to help embark on his son's newly started venture in 1981, starting a Mexican restaurant with the name of Taqueria Arandas. As the restaurant chain quickly grew to 10 stores by 1990, his son quickly noticed the lack of Mexican Sweet Pastries (Pan Dulce) in Houston that can only be found in Mexican Panaderías (Bakeries). So in 1993, he decided to open Arandas Bakery so that Don Lupe his father could be his own proprietor.

Don Lupe is remembered for his strong character and integrity, being a man who worked with great passion and enjoyed the fruits of his labor. A gentle soul, polite, and cordial with his employees and clients, he was always thankful to God for his material and spiritual blessings. In Life he suffered great losses; his three sons Raul Camarena, Rodolfo Camarena, and Jose Camarena, as well as his late wife Maria Soledad Camarena. Even in the face of despair he never allowed himself to be bitter.

Don Lupe instilled a strong work ethic in us and a strong desire to fulfill his life goal of achieving the American Dream. He will be deeply missed.

Mr. Jose Guadalupe Camarena Leon is survived by his six children; Javier Camarena, Maria del Rosario Lopez, Ramiro Camarena, Maria Celia Amaro, Maria De Jesus Garcia, and Guillermo Camarena. His twenty-six grandchildren and thirty-seven great-grandchildren.