It is with heavy hearts we share that on January 15, 2022 at 2:14 am, Carmen (Came) Esthela Zepeda Ortiz, age 72, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, partner in crime and friend to many, was reunited with our Lord and Maker and with those who have gone before us whom we love and miss. After a long and courageous battle with COVID-19, she passed away peacefully in the company of her greatest treasures, her much loved “trifulca”. Because of her, hospital COVID policy was changed and more patients and families will be able to recover or pass away surrounded by their loved ones and no longer alone, as it was. She died knowing she made that difference for others.
An avid reader, talented artist, seamstress, gardener, painter and lover of life, music, pets and laughter, you always found her reading about differing perspectives on hot topics she found of interest, while taking copious notes of her thoughts on the matter. She saw herself as a work in progress and lived life in that same manner, learning about herself and how to positively impact others. She loved engaging in dialogue about the world and its wonders, both in nature and within humans and expressed this through her many talents and gifts. If she wasn’t sewing a wedding dress or simple garment, she could be found crocheting a blanket, making floral arrangements, painting with passion for her subjects, designing and making jewelry, walking her dogs, playing with her tortoise, or writing about life in a poetic, yet light fashion. Talent and zest were at her core.
Always making friends, she would captivate those around her with her infectious smile and glow of happiness. At her center, she was a feminist and lived her life with strength and conviction. She was a lover of animals, particularly dogs and birds. She lived a wanderlust life of travel and curiosity, yet within it all, her greatest accomplishments were her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, which she often referred to as her legacy. Her talents and passions will live on within that legacy. Carmen leaves to cherish her memory her daughters Claudia Zepeda Gaxiola, Veronica Zimmerman, grandchildren Barry Richardson, Jr., Rebekah Acosta, Karyna Esthela Gaxiola, and great-grandchildren Natalie, Noah, Nicholas, Logan and Luke and her life partner Hector V. Ortiz. Due to COVID precautions, an intimate ceremony with immediate family members only will be held on February 15, 2022 at East Lawn Cemetery in Tucson Arizona where she will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that a charitable donation in her name be made to The Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Humane Education Programs, which she held close to her heart, by using the following link:
Donation in Memory of Carmen Ortiz
https://support.hssaz.org/give/163875/?_ga=2.11161591.2109148487.1643911253-1596621182.1643911253#!/donation/checkout
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