Maria del Carmen Gutierrez Herrera

Maria Del Carmen Herrera             1972 - 2017

Maria Del Carmen Herrera passed on to her Heavenly Father on a beautiful Sunday morning, August 13, 2017.  She had just celebrated her 45th birthday with friends and family one month earlier.  Carmen had made a courageous fight with lung and brain cancer.  Great appreciation is expressed to all those who cared for Carmen through that period, particularly the staff at the UofU Hospital and the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Carmen was born in Mexico, Vera Cruz, July 16, 1972.  She lived and was loved by her mother until age 6.  Finding herself unable to care for her little girl, Carmen’s mother left her in the care of a close friend.  Regretfully, that friend became unable to provide for Carmen and she was passed again, eventually being adopted by the Olguin family.   She came alone to America in 1995, bringing her own sweet, young daughter, Ana, who was four at the time.  Life was hard for Carmen, always working so hard while still caring for her daughter.  She was mistreated by her husband during those years, but persisted in keeping that pure heart.  She formed some tender friendships, non closer than her dear friend, Renee Enabe,   Carmen watched Renee’s children and cleaned her house.  Their relationship remained close until Carmen’s last days, with Rene making two trips from California to spend time with Carmen, a week before Carmen’s passing, staying through nights with Carmen, giving Ana much needed rest.

Carmen’s handsome son, Eric, was born in 1999, adding another great source of joy to her life.  Carmen enjoyed seeing Eric grow to become a strong, very kind young man.  Carmen precious little boy, Santiago, was born in 2007.  Anyone who knew Carmen, knew that her children and grandchildren were the greatest joy of her life and she demonstrated that every day through her loving actions and hard work to provide for them.

Carmen was a devoted, strong member of the LDS Church for 9 years.  She had a firm testimony and love for the scriptures and Jesus Christ.  She had a simple but great understanding of the Gospel and loved attending her Sunday meetings.  Carmen taught primary for 7 years and enjoyed that calling very much.  She loved serving as a visiting teacher and she was very grateful for the opportunity to go through the temple.  Carmen particularly loved the friends she had in Lehi, the sisters in her Spanish Ward.  She is smiling down from heaven, pouring love to all those she associated with there.

Throughout Carmen’s life, she  taught and touched many peoples’ lives with her wonderful insight and kind acts of service.  She always preferred to give to those in need rather than to receive.  She faced many hardships throughout her lifetime, but remained positive, righteous, and loving to all.  She worked hard to support her children, never worrying to possess luxurious things, but only to provide a roof over their heads and food on the table.  Anyone who knew Carmen, also knew that she was a very hard worker.  Different than many people, she LOVED working hard.  She had a very good reputation as a house cleaner, working with energy and strength.  While some would find house cleaning a drudgery, Carmen always worked with cheerfulness and that beautiful, bright smile, finding satisfaction in a job well done.  Carmen had started taking Ana to work with her when Ana was only 6 or 7.  They always loved working and being together, a relationship that continued through to the end.

People she worked for recognized and felt her goodness.  Just 2 months before her passing, during a brief period when she regained some of her strength, Carmen was determined to keep working.  She was happiest when she was able to work.  And she continued to find pleasure in service.  A friend related a time when, just 6 weeks before her passing....after cleaning for this woman, she (and the 2 ladies that were working with her), snuck out together, purposely not being paid.  When that person saw Carmen a week later, Carmen’s eyes twinkled with delight as the woman tried to pay her...and with a big smile she said in her broken English....”Service.  I like service!  No, no money!”

She enjoyed cooking and having people in her humble home.  She liked caring for her flowers and pets.  She would laugh and smile easily and appreciated everything good that surrounded her.  Her children have many good memories of taking bike rides and going for walks together.. having her play basketball with them and little things like playing hide and seek with her young grandchildren.

While recovering from a particularly severe surgery, Carmen had a detailed and comforting dream of the afterlife.  She was able to relate specifics of that experience to her daughter, holding great faith in eternal life and the goodness of Heavenly Father.  That dream continued to give Carmen comfort right up through her last days.  In her very last days, she described seeing people who she felt

she knew and felt great joy.

Carmen will be dearly missed by all who knew her, her example, love, and leadership.  Her three children and three grandchildren will each remember her as their personal angel.  Her kind words, beautiful smile, and deep love will be kept in the minds of all who were blessed to know her.

Funeral services will be at the Farmington Stake Center 347 S 200 W Farmington UT, 84025 at 12 noon. Interment will be help prior to the funeral service at 11AM at the Farmington city cemetery.