Carmen Elizabeth Miramontes was born to Alfred Simon Miramontes and Leontine Durand Miramontes on May 26, 1910 in San Francisco. She was second from the youngest with four brothers and one sister. Their names were Edward, Marie, Lloyd, Alfred, and Ernest. Carmen’s father was born in Half Moon Bay in 1866 and was the grandson of Candelario Miramontes who was awarded the Land Grant for Rancho Arroyo de los Pilarcitos later called Rancho San Benito and then Spanishtown. The Land Grant included the area now known as the town of Half Moon Bay. Carmen grew up in San Francisco attending Mission Grammar School and then High School at Lux School of Industrial Training for Women. She married Richard Yoacham in 1927 and had one son named Leon Harold Yoacham. She was quite an accomplished seamstress, dressing many family members and friends and also worked at the phone company. Carmen was married in 1936 to Alfred Perruquet, a general contractor. Together they had two children, Rosalie Ann and Alfred Ernest Perruquet. The family settled in El Granada. During Carmen’s years on the coast she enjoyed being a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, served as a trustee on the local school board, and always offered a helping hand to others. She loved being a mother and grandmother, taking care of her family and being very involved with her church. In addition to her family Carmen was blessed with many close friends. She truly loved life and enjoyed every minute. Her positive and joyful spirit was infectious to all who knew her. Carmen and Fred hosted MANY wonderful parties for family and friends over the years.
After residing on the coast for more than 60 years, Carmen moved to South Lake Tahoe to live with her daughter Rosalie Svare in 2000. She continued to enjoy life and traveled to Seattle, British Columbia, Hawaii and also celebrated her last four birthdays at Disneyland! She often spoke of how much she loved living in the mountains and said, “Tahoe is just like heaven.” Carmen passed away at home with her daughter and granddaughter Tiffany at her side on March 10, 2008.
 Carmen Elizabeth Miramontes Perruquet |
We will honor and celebrate Carmen’s life on April 19, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., at Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Church, 540 Kelly Street in Half Moon Bay. Donations may be made to Spanishtown Historical Society, P.O. Box 62, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, 1485 Cherry Hills Circle, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150-4921, and Barton Hospital Foundation Hospice Fund, 2092 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite 400, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.
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