Carmen L Monsivais
March 20, 1927 - May 23, 2026
OBITUARY
Mary Carmen Monsivais, age 99, entered into the hands of our Lord and Savior on May 23, 2026 in Lodi, California surrounded by her loving family. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and will be dearly missed. Carmen was born on March 20, 1927 in Tucson, Arizona. She graduated from Tucson High School where she loved to engage in gym sports like basketball. After graduation Carmen held various sales and commercial jobs.
While in a brief marriage, Carmen was blessed with one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. In 1963 mother and daughter relocated to San Jose, California to reconnect with relatives and start a new life. While living in San Jose, Carmen was able to participate in the now former Santa Clara County Employment and Training Agency (SETA) Program. Upon receiving her certificate degree, Carmen was hired by the office of the District Attorney of Santa Clara County where her clerical training, administrative skills, and fluency in Spanish served her and the department well. Always a team player with a congenial personality, Carmen often translated for Spanish-speaking individuals in court and often addressed the judicial needs and proceedings of a court hearing. Carmen held this position for 17 years.
It was there in San Jose where she met the love of her life, Joe Torres Monsivais. While both commuting to work by bus, they developed a friendship which soon led to marriage. After both retiring from their respective jobs, they settled in Lodi, California. After the sudden death of her husband in 1994, Carmen, with diligent effort, started a new life for herself. Beginning a new life of self-sufficiency, Carmen enjoyed taking the Dial-A-Ride bus to her doctor’s appointments and on shopping adventures to various local stores.
Carmen had a sharp memory and possessed a keen sense of storytelling. She often reminisced about growing up in Tucson and shared specific details about both family events and history. Carmen was the heart of her family and her grandson’s dearest “Nana.” She loved to take trips with her family, especially to Las Vegas where she was adept at playing the slot machines at various casinos. Among family, Carmen was known to be very lucky at gambling and once won $5000 on a replay lottery ticket.
Carmen had a great sense of humor and was a source of warmth, kindness, and joy to her family and anyone who knew her. In her later years she enjoyed participating in local elections, attending lunches at LOEL Senior Center, completing Word Search books, reading crime novels, and watching various television programs such as morning game shows and crime series.
Carmen is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe T. Monsivais; her parents, Joaquin and Geromina Lopez; her siblings, Albert Lopez, Margaret Ortega, Alice Zazueta, Dolores Wallin, and Joaquin (Jack) Lopez.
Carmen is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Monsivais-Ordonia (Michael A. Ordonia), and her grandson, Nathan LaMusga; her sister Nellie Moreno, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Family would like to thank Lodi Creek Post-Acute and VITAS Healthcare for their compassionate care during the final months of Carmen’s life.
VISITATION
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 12:00pm in Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, located at 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.
FUNERAL SERVICE
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 1:00pm in Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.
GRAVESIDE
A graveside service will be held immediately following the funeral service at Cherokee Memorial Park, 14165 N. Beckman Rd, Lodi, CA 95240.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Monsivias family.