Carmen Maria Dominguez

Carmen Maria Dominguez was called to Heaven on Saturday, September 7, 2024. She was surrounded by her devoted and loving daughters, sisters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, family and friends after a week-long vigil of prayers, tears, laughter and memories. 

 Carmen was born January 18, 1944 at home in Phoenix, Arizona to Laura Riesgo Morales and Carlos Chretin Morales. She was one of 6 children and an adopted brother. As the middle sibling she often cared for her younger siblings and older brother Carlitos. Her caring nature would later be her greatest gift in life. 

 As a young girl, her education began at Garfield elementary and continued at St. Mary’s until her sophomore year. She then transferred to Phoenix Union High School and attended school with her older brother Ralph where she met her husband, Rufino Dominguez Jr. She graduated from PUHS in 1962 and later married Rufino when he returned from the United States Army in April 1967. During their marriage, they had three daughters: Michelle (McKinn), Melinda (Samora) and Maria (Shelley). Although their marriage dissolved in 1977, Carmen and Rufino would later regrow their friendship. 

 Carmen trained to become a keypunch operator and worked for Maricopa County where she quickly was promoted to Supervisor until 1988 when she retired. After retirement with the county, Carmen opened a private daycare in her home for 5 years. Her daughter Michelle would take over the daycare so that Carmen could care for her mother and older brother Carlitos. She later worked night shift at Good Samaritan Hospital in the Labor and Delivery Unit. She left the hospital in 2012 but kept in touch with her co-workers and enjoyed going on cruises with them.

Carmen moved into the St. Gregory neighborhood in 2011 where she quickly became known as “yardsale” grandma to the neighbors. She would walk the neighborhood and to church stopping at any yard sale on the way. Carmen’s yard sales however were something of a masterpiece. Chances are you never left from her yard sale empty handed. She was the “Queen” of yard sales. She also helped to feed the homeless with her brother, Jimmy’s ministry. She was truly one of a kind and will be missed by so many who knew and loved her. 

Carmen is survived by her 3 daughters: Michelle McKinn, Melinda (Gabriel Samora) and Maria (Jason Shelley), 8 grandkids, 2 great grandchildren; sisters: Laura Ramirez and Veronica Bryant; brother: James Morales Sr.; many nieces, nephews, cousins and godchildren.

On Friday, October 4th a visitation will be held from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM with rosary prayers at 7:00 PM at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home located at 4800 E. Indian School Rd. in Phoenix. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, October 5th at 10:00 AM at St. Gregory Catholic Church at 3424 N 18th Ave. in Phoenix. Burial to follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Phx.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her honor to Hospice of the Valley at HOV.org or St. Gregory Catholic Church or to  wesharegiving.org.