Carmen R. Perez

Carmen Perez was born in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico. She lived in Mérida with her parents and one sister until 1944, when her family moved to Mexico City. She finished her basic academic education and enrolled in a secretarial college for two years. By her late teens she had procured a clerical job in the embassy of Cuba in Mexico City. Then moved to a more permanent job with an insurance company. Her experience in office procedures and ability to take accurate dictation and typing paved the way to a position as secretary for the District Attorney’s Office for the Mexican government.

During her early twenties, Carmen engaged in acquiring sewing skills such as dressmaking as well as personal development activities such as drawing and voice. She had a beautiful natural soprano voice that was recognized by her parents and family friends since she was a little girl. By 1951, she auditioned for voice classes with the then famous Mexican contralto opera singer Fanny Anitúa. Ms. Anitúa heard potential in her voice, but Carmen did not have the financial resources for a formal voice and musical education. So, Fanny Anitua recommended her to voice trainer José Pierson, professor of voice and director of the Mexican Opera Company, who had a singing studio at the XEW Radio Station In Mexico City. Mr. Pierson at the time was the voice trainer for the famous Mexican singer Jorge Negrete.

She engaged in voice training for about a year and during this time met a young man named Jesús Pérez, who was also taking voice classes and would later become her husband. While at the Pierson Studio Carmen’s voice did not go unheard and was immediately approached by the manager of the singing group Los Panchitos, later becoming the singing group Los Hermanos Castro. However, Carmen’s father objected to her daughter performing in night clubs at such young age and so, she declined the offer to be the group’s female soloist.

At the voice studio Carmen established a friendly relationship with Jesús Pérez. By 1957 they became engaged and in 1958 married in México City. Jesus brought Carmen to the United States where he was offered a job, legal permanent residency and the opportunity make Los Angeles their home town. Although they had limited knowledge of the English language, honesty and hard work ethics compensated any language deficiencies and they never felt unwelcomed in their community. Carmen was grateful for the blessings received and for the opportunity to contribute to the family economy through her twenty years of service at the Los Angeles Unified School District. They lived in Los Angeles County from 1958 through 2000 and then moved to San Bernardino County, where they lived until Jesus’ death in 2015 and recently Carmen’s demise in 2026.

Carmen is survived by her sister, four daughters, eight grandchildren, ten great grandchildren as well as extended family members through marriages. We too (daughters) are grateful to God for our loving parents, surviving relatives in Mexico and true friends.