Carmen M. Diaz

Carmen “Pocha” Margarita Diaz Alcalde Blas Carmen Margarita Diaz, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, godmother, grandmother, best friend, and mentor passed away at home on March 14, 2023. Carmen was born on August 14, 1948 to Tempora “Tumi” Blas and along with Hipolito “Cha” Salinas, was raised with her siblings Eddie Salinas, Jesus Esperanza Roque, Pricila Aguilar, Oscar Salinas, Angelica Salinas, and Rosana Salinas in Lima, Peru. Pocha always knew she wanted to explore the world. She started by singing on the radio in her hometown, becoming a hairdresser and taught herself to be a seamstress. When she married her husband Vicente Diaz, they started a new adventure by moving to the United States. There she obtained her GED and hairdresser license. She started as a salesperson at Central Fabrics in 1985 and later became the store manager. There she made another family with people that shared her passion for sewing and fashion. Pocha spent 38 years with this family until her illness prevented her from working, but this family didn’t forget her and visited her until the end. Pocha was the proud mother of two very different but caring daughters, Wendolyn Santos, and Silvia Diaz-Duque. Her eldest Wendolyn inherited her love for making friends and dancing while her youngest, Silvia Diaz-Duque, inherited her passion for traveling and independence. She enjoyed traveling the globe with her family and then later in life with a group of dear friends. Some of her favorite travel destinations included Europe, the Caribbean, Jordan, Jerusalem, India and of course Machu Picchu. Pocha managed to visit every continent except Australia. However, the beach was her favorite destination because she believed in the ocean’s rejuvenating properties. Everyone that knew her was able to feel part of her travels because of her love for photography and sharing her experiences on social media. While she loved to travel, she also loved family time. She loved celebrations and made sure that each one was full of food, love, music and loved ones. Pocha’s birthdays had to be an event not just a party. Even a Sunday dinner had to be well-prepared and overflowing with food. Carmen’s family and friends would describe her as invincible, generous, loving, thoughtful, caring, fashionable, and joyful, with a profound love for life. She is survived by her loving husband Vicente Diaz, her daughters, Wendolyn Santos and Silvia Diaz-Duque, her son-in-law Rigoberto Duque, her grandchildren Kassandra Santos, Gabriel Santos, Juan Jose Duque, and her granddogs Scrappy Diaz and Teddy Bear Santos. Followed by numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, godchildren, and loving friends.