Carmen Iris Perez, 80, a retired nurse, mother, grandmother and widow, transitioned on Monday, April 30, 2018 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Brooklyn. 

Carmen, also referred to as “Iri”, was born on September 27, 1937 to (the late) Henry Gonzalez Colon and Josephine Ortiz Colon in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  She has two sisters – the eldest Elizabeth Contreras preceded her death, and her younger sister Andujar Medina Lopez is with us today. 

Carmen earned her Bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, and worked as a Registered Nurse until she retired as the Head Nurse of Oncology at Downstate Medical Center in 2003. 

Carmen, a warm, loving and a nurturing woman, the strongest woman of her kind, was a cancer survivor and a kind-hearted philanthropist.  Her personality was infectious, and she touched many lives among her patients, friends and family with her cool demeanor, warm spirit and comedic flair.  Carmen loved bachata music, art, traveling, flowers and animals.  She loved trying new restaurants as well as going to movies and plays/concerts with friends and family. 

Carmen is survived by her two daughters: Lisa and Karinny Pizarro; her four grandchildren: Ashley, Kathleen, Manuel and Kevin; her great-grandchildren: Kevin Jr, Lovely and Elizabeth ; her best friends: Mary Vidal, Ms. Diane, Ms. Fung Choy and Ms. Melonie Grayson; and a host of cousins, other relatives, colleagues and friends. 

Carmen will be most remembered for her kindness, strength, embracing new technology and new music, and her love of being a grandmother, a mother, a sister, and a friend. 

The memories of Carmen will live forever
and be filled with joy, laughter and peace.

AMEN