Maria Del Carmen Cardenas Parra, 90 years old, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on August 2nd, 2017. She was born on January 27, 1927 in Juarez, Mexico. Carmen was a longtime resident of El Paso, Texas. She was married for over 60 years; she spent the last 22 years with her husband Atenogenes Parra and family in Albuquerque, NM. She was preceded in death by her husband, Atenogenes Parra; parents, Martín and Ramona Cardenas; her brothers, Gerónimo Cardenas, Francísco Cardenas, Jose-António Cardenas, Augustín Cardenas, and her sister, Guadalupe Espíndola. She is survived by her siblings, Víctor Manuel, Luciana, and Ramón and her 6 sons, Mario Atenogenes Parra (Dora), Raul Parra (Patricia), Ruben Armando Parra (Cynthia), Rick Parra (Nidia), Benjamin Parra (Caroline), and Rene Parra (Melinda). Grandchildren: Monica (Billy) Strickland, Mario Parra Jr.; Georgina (Juan) Cordova, Denise Parra (Brian) Arnold, Gabrielle (Andrew) English, and Tosha (Tony) Gutilla; Adrian Parra, Diana Parra Awtrey, Alexandria Parra, and Robert Parra and fiancé Marissa Trujillo; Cristina (Matthew) Wilson, and Aaron Parra; Gabriel Parra; Marissa, Ryan, and Madison Parra. Great-Grandchildren: Isabella, Maximilian and Samuel Strickland; Juan Jr. and Annabella Cordova; Mykaylah, Andrew Jr., and Anthony English; Stella and Dominic Gutilla; Marcus Altamirano and Alyssa Awtrey; and Avery Parra-Palacio. As the family matriarch, she was a strong, supportive, and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who encouraged her sons and their families to pursue their education, careers, and strong family values centered on her Catholic faith. Carmen had a great love for raising birds, specifically, canaries; as well as reading, gardening and ballpoint needling. Carmen has never missed an opportunity to celebrate her Saint Day, July 16th. She will be dearly missed, but her legacy of strength, family values, and spiritual faith will live on through her growing family. Visitation will be held from 5:00-9:00pm Monday, August 7, 2017 followed by a Rosary at 7:00pm at F.D.A. Martin East, 1460 George Dieter Dr. A Mass will be at 12:00pm Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 2301 Zanzibar Road, with interment to follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her sons Mario, Raul, Ruben, Rick, Benjamin, and Rene Parra. Services entrusted to F.D.A. Martin Funeral Home East. www.funerariasdelangel.com/martin-east