Carmen Nelly Suarez

Carmen Nelly Suarez, age 77, born to Juan and Juana Suarez on August 5, 1946 in Maunabo, Puerto Rico, passed away on April 3, 2024, in the comfort of her home in Raytown, MO. Carmen was a cherished member of her family and an inspiration to her community wherever she lived.

At a very young age, Carmen, her eldest brother Hector Suarez and Mother Juana Suarez left the enchanted island of Puerto Rico, “La Isla de Encanto” to reunite with the patriarch of the family Juan Suarez in search of a better life on the island of Manhattan in New York City.

Carmen encountered many challenges and overcame many barriers growing up in Spanish Harlem. At the age of 17, she graduated from Julia Richman High School and later pursued a career in Early Childhood Education at the College of New Rochelle. She dedicated over 30 years of her life teaching children and their parents the importance of education.

Although she left Puerto Rico at a very young age, her cultural roots were never forgotten. Carmen’s love for God, her family, people, music, salsa dancing, cooking and mastering her mother’s traditional Puerto Rican cuisine by watching her mom as a little girl was what she was most proud of.

Carmen was a devoted mother to her three surviving children: Jeanette Suarez Lopez, Lisa Jeanette Orchart Flores and Michael Jae Orchart. She was a beloved grandmother to Alyssa Nicole Flores, Daniel Jonathan Flores, Frank Elijah Lopez and an adoring sister to her siblings the “Fabulous Five”, Hector Suarez, Evelyn Suarez Roldan, Juana Suarez and Alfredo Suarez who recently passed. She admired her cousins, Nelson Ortiz, Dillia Diaz Ortiz, Jennie Ugarte Pratts, Emilio Ortiz, Pete Oritz and David Ortiz, and loved her two nieces, eight nephews and three God daughters.

She was preceded in death by: parents, Juan Suarez and Juana Rodriguez Suarez; cousin, David Ortiz and Pete Ortiz; brother, Alfredo Suarez; and sister-in-law, Renee Eddington.

Carmen will always be remembered as a person who made a difference in the lives of so many whose impact will continue to be felt for years to come. Her legacy will live on through her family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

A celebration of life will be held from 2:00pm-4:00pm on Friday, April 12, 2024 at Heartland Cremation & Burial Society, 6113 Blue Ridge Blvd. Raytown, MO 64133.

For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good

order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Colossians 2:5