Carmen is a vibrant Latino lady, and she is a great example of successful aging. She was  married for 65 years to Lorenzo, who died in July, 2000.  Carmen has a large family that includes six children, twenty-seven grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. She has no great-great grandchildren yet, but Carmen smiled and flashed her eyes when she said, "I'm ready!"  Carmen speaks mostly Spanish. She was interviewed in her home, through a translator.

Although Carmen's husband had been living in the United States for many years, she was reluctant to bring her children to the United States, because she had heard stories about the very liberal lifestyles in the U.S. She wanted to shield her children from them. Consequently, they continued their marriage and family with Lorenzo working here and visiting regularly -- as well as providing for his family. When their youngest child was 11 years old, Carmen made the big decision. In 1964, she moved her family from Guadalajara Mexico to the Midwestern United States and joined her husband.

On a "typical" day, Carmen starts by having breakfast, and thanking the Lord. She is Catholic, and lives across the street from her church. She still goes to church and has been very active in it over the years. In fact, when she and her late husband first moved into the neighborhood there were no provisions in the church for Spanish speaking parishioners. Lorenzo, along with his family and friends, worked until they secured a priest who spoke Spanish. Next came a Spanish choir, and from that point, everything just "fell into place" for the church and the neighborhood.

Carmen has a very close, loving family. The children are very respectful and caring of Carmen  -- and of each other. Carmen reports that none of their children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren have drug or alcohol problems. She credits that to Lorenzo and the lessons he taught by example. "He never drank, and he was a strict disciplinarian," said Carmen. Both of them also encouraged their children to get good educations because they were unable to get educations for themselves due to the Mexican situation when they were young. (The Mexican Revolution was going on then.) All six of her children went to college and earned degrees, "to honor" their father. Mexican sayings ("Dichos") are important to her family's way of life. All of these sayings convey morals and values, and are a vital part of the family cultural teachings as well as to the passing on of traditions.

According to Carmen,  once she brought the family to the United States, they stayed, because "Our future was here." The picture below depicts a significant part of that future. It was, however, taken several years ago, and there have been several additions to the family since then.

Carmen's accomplishments in the family include being a role model for and working with her children. She was also very involved with the church. She is a Third Order of St. Teresa, The Order of Mt. Carmel. This organization does lots of work for the community, and has a very strong spiritual component. She has scapulars which she still wears for her prayer times.  Most of her friends have been from the church over the years; however, today she does not have a lot of friends outside her family unit.

All of their children are still very respectful.  An example of the family' closeness was cited. A few years ago, one of the grandsons graduated from Harvard, and twenty-seven family members went to Boston for his graduation -- including Carmen and her husband. They also went to San Diego for another grandson's graduation from Stanford.

Her family has lots of reunions. At a recent reunion, there were 71 people in attendance. Another reunion had been held only two weeks prior to the interview, and about 100 people were there. They also have T-shirts made for all who come to the reunions, which include the names of every family member on them.

Carmen has no thoughts of going to a nursing home. Instead, according to Carmen, "We have taught our children to respect and care for us."  Two of her grandchildren live in her home with her at the present time.

Carmen's husband lived 34 years after he retired. She has always worked at home with her family, because her husband wanted her there. "I used to have lots of energy," said Carmen, "but not so much now."

Carmen and Lorenzo both used to walk a lot, but were forced to stop when health problems confined her husband to a wheel chair. Before his death, Carmen and Lorenzo traveled to Panama, Central South American, and El Salvador. In fact, if she were to have the chance to live her life over, Carmen would travel and go out more next time. Carmen is proudest of her family and the way they come to help when she doesn't feel good. "Our grandchildren take us lots of places. None of them are rude, and all are respectful."

What is the most important thing to Carmen today? Her response was quick:  "To be healthy!"