Carmen Reyes Rubio
November 1, 1943-October 2, 2026
Carmen Reyes Rubio, age 82, passed away peacefully, at home, on Friday, October 2nd, 2026. Carmen was born on November 1st, 1943, to Marciano and Sara Reyes in Globe, Arizona. She was the youngest of 5. She attended grammar school in Globe prior to moving to Mendota, California. In Mendota, she attended Washington Elementary and McCabe Junior High. She graduated from Tranquility High School in 1962. After graduation, she and her sister, Mary, moved to Azusa, CA, to work at Pharmacell as production line workers, capping needles. They lived with their brother, Johnny, and his family. In 1964 they lost their mother, Sara, and moved back home to Mendota. There Carmen met Pedro Rubio. They dated and eventually married. On June 2nd, 1968, they had their first daughter, Sara Lee. For the next 8 years, while living in Mendota, Carmen worked at a senior center, serving lunches and working with the elderly, she was a cashier at the Food Center, and she later worked at the elementary school as a teacher's aide. On July 13th, 1977, Carmen gave birth to their daughter, Andriena. Then, Pete got a job in Atwater, CA, so they left Mendota. They soon found out Andriena was born with bone cancer. Doctors told Carmen that Andriena would probably not make it to her first birthday. Carmen did everything she could to hold on to her daughter as long as she could. During this time, she moved to Los Banos to be closer to her sister, Mary. Frequent visits to Oakland's Children's Hospital would fill Andriena's toddler years and she made it to remission. Once things stabilized, Carmen was hired to work with migrant children through Los Banos Unified. She worked for the district until she retired at age 62. She helped hundreds of Spanish speaking migrant students with their school workload. Many of these children returned to Los Banos to work in the community. As adults, they would see Carmen around Los Banos and run to hug her and thank her for all she did for them. They remembered her kindness and all she did to help them understand their schoolwork.
As an aunt, Carmen was top tier! She loved to spoil her nieces and nephews. She was the family beautician and gave out haircuts. She pierced ears. She was crafty and made dresses, Easter baskets, and Halloween costumes. She took them fishing, had sleep overs, and dance parties. She made slip and slides and homemade swimming pools. She always made them feel like they were hers.
On January 30th, 1991, Carmen became a Nana. Pete Marciano Duarte was born to her daughter, Sara. Together, she and Sara raised him. Pete was the light of her life, her Papi. She had so much love to give and of course, she spoiled him. Pete would be the light she needed. On June 19th, 1993, Carmen lost Andriena. Then, on May 29th, 2018, she would lose Sara. Despite the extreme loss, Carmen's strength carried her through to her grandson's wedding on December 22, 2018. She was also able to share her love with her first great-granddaughter, Selena Sara, born on April 29th, 2022. Pete and Gabbi blessed her with another great-granddaughter on July 28th, 2026. Diana was born early but just in time to get to feel the love that Carmen had for her, too.
Carmen loved crafting, fishing, playing Lotería, going to the casino, rooting for the San Francisco Giants, the Raiders, and the Cowboys, and spending time with her family. She was always supporting youth sports or school fundraisers. When Pete was in the band, she made sure to attend his recitals, band reviews, and football halftime shows. She loved to give out special treats during the Easter egg hunts and Halloween. She enjoyed having her favorite, strawberry waffle, but she especially loved her sister Mary's food.
Carmen will forever be missed and cherished. Those who knew her were lucky to be loved by her.
Carmen was preceded in death by her parents, Sara and Marciano Reyes, her brothers Charlie, Johnny, and Gilbert, her daughters Andriena and Sara, her husband Pete, her nephew "Johnny Boy" Reyes, niece, Judy Luna, and niece, Valerie Lugo. She is survived by her grandson Pete Duarte and his wife, Gabbi, her great-granddaughters, Selena and Diana, and her sister, Mary Lugo. She also leaves behind nieces, Christine Rivas, Terry Criado, Nancy Montemayor, Emily Reyes, Lisa Lugo, Sandra Alarcon, and nephews, Michael Silvera, Gilbert Reyes, and Ben Lugo along with numerous great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

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