Carmen was born on August 31, 1928, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to Maria Velez and Juan Jose Serate, the 12th of 14 children. She knew early on that her calling was to serve others, helping her sister, Eladia, maintain her household and care for her much younger seven nieces and nephews.

In 1953, at the age of 25, Carmen bravely relocated to what would become her much-loved “El Barrio”, determined to make the best of it with her infant daughter, Migdalia. As God would have it, he ordered her steps to meet Julian Febres who, with record speed, recognized that Carmen was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. They married in 1954 and thus began their commitment to “follow the path of marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as they both lived”, and more importantly, “to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and His Church". Their marriage is a testament to their vows.

Carmen, with much perseverance and purpose, is forever remembered as a one-in-a-million mother to 7 children (CarmenJulia, Migdalia, Julian Jr., Maria, Estanislao, Evelyn, & Raymond), 13 grandchildren (Julio, Indira, Alejandro, Julian Jurn, Uriel, Ray-Ray, Jeniimarie, Alberto, Emmett, Ian, Leilani, John Keanu, & Noah), 14 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great-grandchildren, two daughter-in-laws, and one son-in-law. She was a much-revered matriarch, tirelessly nurturing not only her children but also helping to develop her grandkids and all kids, exemplified by her care of Daphne, an honorary granddaughter, who rose to Carmen’s every need without reservation. Candy, a niece, was likewise graced by Titi Carmen’s caring spirit and was kind in return.

Carmen’s generosity was clearly evident in the remedies she shared with everyone, her irresistible meals of arroz con gandules, pasteles, pernil, fried chicken, sorullos,mavi, butter pound cake, and a host of other delicacies, too many to mention. There is no kitchen gadget she didn’t own and none that she didn’t use. Her kitchen and her family were her treasures.

Carmen’s wealth was not in money nor the material world. Her riches were love and compassion, humility, “tell it like I see it” fierceness, and the selfless desire to be there for everyone to meet all of their needs. With any knock on her door, she was prepared to put on her batita and pañuelo, strain a fresh cup of Cafe Bustelo through the cloth colador, cook up a calderon of whatever was at hand, serve up an ice-filled glass of Pepsi or Poland Springs water, and embrace you with all she was.

She will be dearly missed and dearly remembered by all who were blessed to have known her. “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:21.