Aurelia "Carmen" Diaz

Aurelia “Carmen” "Granny" Diaz, age 91, of Calumet City, Illinois, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2026.  Carmen is survived by 2 sons:  Alberto (Veronica) Diaz,  Jose Antonio (Sandra) Diaz; 5 daughters:  Patricia Diaz, Gloria Diaz, Ana Dolores Diaz, Mary Teresa Velazquez and Almarose Wennerberg; 14 grandchildren:  Diana Diaz, A.J. Diaz, Maricela (Manuel Antonio) Rodriguez, Maria Jose (fiance, Nicolas Hunt) Diaz, Sandy Jazmin Diaz (Jorge Andres) Lopez, Anthony Israel Diaz, Grace Josephina Diaz, Claudia Patricia Vazquez Diaz, Rocio Margarita Vazquez  Diaz, Ruby (Jesse Cuellar) Velazquez, Esmeralda Velazquez, Perla (Angelo Perez) Velazquez, Jose (Melinda) Avelar, and Rodolfo (Mary) Leyva, Jr.; great grandchildren:  Jesus Partida Vazquez, Paola Partida Vazquez, Valentina Partida Vazquez, Efrain Espinoza Vazquez, Cristian Espinoza Vazquez, Velani Ortiz, Mariano Ortiz, Adrian Diaz, Maya Diaz, Joy Diaz, Zulema Lopez, Aurora Lopez, Tobias Lopez, Ruby Carvajal, Jose Carvajal, Carmen Cuellar, Jesse Cuellar, Lily Amber Mosqueda, Jason Mosqueda, Jay Mosqueda, Angelica Perez, Pearl Perez, Angelo Perez, Angel Perez, Violet Perez, Antonio Perez, Raul Perez, Antonio Avelar, Jr., Timothy Avelar, Giovanni Jeremiah Leyva, and Emily Rose Leyva; numerous great great grandchildren and great great great great grandchildren; 3 sisters:  Dolores “Lola” Maldonado, Amelia Velazquez and Mary Ellis; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  Preceded in death by husband, Jose Diaz; grandson, Daniel “Beav’s” Leyva; brothers:  Roberto Velazquez, Guillermo Velazquez and Antonio Velazquez; sisters:  Irene Lopez, Rebecca Velazquez, Joanna Velazquez, Raquel Velazquez, and Enrietta Velazquez; son-in-law, Raul Velazquez.

Funeral Services will be held at FIFE FUNERAL HOME at 10:00 am on Friday, July 10, 2026, with Pastor Angel Ruiz officiating. Burial to follow at Oakland Memory Lanes Cemetery, Dolton, Illinois. Visitation will be on Thursday, July 9, 2026 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at FIFE FUNERAL HOME, 4201 Indianapolis Blvd., East Chicago, Indiana; and on Friday morning from 9:00 to 10:00 am at the funeral home.

Carmen was very devout in her faith and walked with God every day of her life; she loved to read her Bible.  She was a very loving and caring mother and grandmother; always willing to give her guidance.  Carmen was a person of good humor; she loved to dance the jitter-bug and the charleston; and also enjoyed her cross-word puzzles and the funnies.  Carmen will be missed and always loved by her family.  To send an online condolence, logon to: www.fifefuneralhome.com

Morando bajo la sombra del Omnipotente

 1 El que habita al abrigo del Altísimo

Morará bajo la sombra del Omnipotente.

 2 Diré yo a Jehová: Esperanza mía, y castillo mío;

Mi Dios, en quien confiaré.

 3 El te librará del lazo del cazador,

De la peste destructora.

 4 Con sus plumas te cubrirá,

Y debajo de sus alas estarás seguro;

Escudo y adarga es su verdad.

 5 No temerás el terror nocturno,

Ni saeta que vuele de día,

 6 Ni pestilencia que ande en oscuridad,

Ni mortandad que en medio del día destruya.

 7 Caerán a tu lado mil,

Y diez mil a tu diestra;

Mas a ti no llegará.

 8 Ciertamente con tus ojos mirarás

Y verás la recompensa de los impíos.

 9 Porque has puesto a Jehová, que es mi esperanza,

Al Altísimo por tu habitación,

 10 No te sobrevendrá mal,

Ni plaga tocará tu morada.

 11 Pues a sus ángeles mandará acerca de ti,a

Que te guarden en todos tus caminos.

 12 En las manos te llevarán,

Para que tu pie no tropiece en piedra.b

 13 Sobre el león y el áspid pisarás;

Hollarás al cachorro del león y al dragón.c

 14 Por cuanto en mí ha puesto su amor, yo también lo libraré;

Le pondré en alto, por cuanto ha conocido mi nombre.

 15 Me invocará, y yo le responderé;

Con él estaré yo en la angustia;

Lo libraré y le glorificaré.

 16 Lo saciaré de larga vida,

Y le mostraré mi salvación.

Granny finished the race faithfully and gracefully. She was such a loving and caring soul. Her just being herself reflected the love of Jesus, making those around her feel warm and safe. She was the perfect example of what a warrior of Christ should be. Determined to get at least just "One" more soul everywhere, she went, even if it meant paying prison time. Willing to be persecuted like her Savior if it meant bringing others to The Kingdom for eternity. I remember as a little girl always waking up and seeing her on her knees praying; her Bible flat out open in the kitchen, going to war for her family as tears rolled down her cheeks. She did not take our salvation lightly. I am thankful for the sacrifices she made and the pain she endured for us to have a better and more meaningful life. I will forever hold on to every story she ever shared and the purest smile I ever saw. Life comes in seasons and this season is a season of grief mixed with happiness because, although I will forever miss being able to hug her or hear her historical laugh, here on earth, I know she is finally running laps in heaven, rejoicing at the feet of the King with my Tia Irene & of course, with all the angels. Through my pain and hurt I am gently reminded that God is the Author of our stories and knows exactly when it's time for us to go home. He gives and takes away and, through this, He should always be given the Glory. As believers, we know that we are just passing through and that in this temporary life we should always be seeking the face of God in our highs and even more in our lows. Granny would've wanted her life to be remembered as legendary and it WILL. She brought me to the feet of our Creator and because of that I know God gave her the prettiest crown in heaven and the best seat at His table. And so, if you take anything from this, let it be this. Reflect on your life. Find your secret place and call out to Jesus because, after all, you are the one He left His flock to find.

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