Carmen Mir passes away just shy of 100th birthday

DOWNEY – Carmen Mir, 99, peacefully passed away on Feb. 13. She had lived in Downey for over 15 years. 

Carmen was born on July 10, 1917 passing away a few short months of her 100th birthday. She was born in Guantanamo Cuba as Carmen Diaz Cisneros, daughter of Carlos Manuel Diaz and Maria Cisneros. 

She emigrated to the United States in April 1945 to New York City. In New York, she reconnected with a friend, Jorge Enrique Mir, from Banes and were married on November 22, 1946. Jorge passed away in 1983. They had four sons together. 

She migrated to New York and lived in the states of Connecticut and Pennsylvania before moving to California in December 1970. In California, she lived in Huntington Park, Santa Fe Springs, and finally settling in Downey over 20 years ago. 

She never learned to drive but was ambitious and independent that she would hop on the bus to downtown Los Angeles or the Greyhound to either Connecticut or Florida. 

She is predeceased by her husband, Jorge Enrique, her eldest son, Jorge Enrique Jr. and grandson, Marcel Adrian Mir. She is survived by her other 3 sons Louis Carlo (Sonia), Carl Jessie (Norma), and James Eric (Lisa) and her son’s widow, Gloria. Carmen’s other grandchildren, Alyda, Louis (Monica), Jorge (Jen), Amanda, Carissa (Brandon), Ashley, Natalie and Christopher. And her great-grandchildren, Monique, Jazmine, Jacob, Liam, Brooklyn, Evan, Zander and Kryztof. 

A rosary was held at the home of the Maleski’s on Feb. 26. A special intention mass will be held in the near future.