Carmen Contreras was born July 22nd, 1956, in Tariácuri, Michoacan Mexico to parents Jose Bernabe de Jesus Carranza Diaz and Cleotilde Reyes Ruiz. She passed peacefully surrounded by her family in Greeley, Colorado on February 5th, 2024.

Carmen Grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico, and it was here that she met her best friend and husband Juan Contreras. They were married August 29th, 1976, and they would go on to have four children together.

A few years after they were married Carmen and Juan moved to Los Angeles, California, where they would raise their family together. In early 1990, Carmen's sister Maria Fidelia Carranza Reyes fell ill, and Carmen travelled to be with her in Brush, Colorado to help with her recovery. During this time, Carmen came to appreciate the peaceful atmosphere and, later in the same year, she would move with Juan to Brush more permanently. In 2006, Juan and Carmen made the decision to return to Los Angeles to be near Juan's family. In November of 2013, seven years later, Carmen and Juan would move to Greeley, Colorado, returning to the more peaceful environment that she had grown to love so that family could be more active with Carmen's care.

Carmen had a huge heart and was always family-first in everything that she did. She always strived to be there for her family, especially her kids and her many grandchildren. Even as her health declined, she would always insist on lending a helping hand. Everything that she cooked was delicious, her love for her family and her culinary skill showing through every dish she prepared. Carmen was an incredibly kind soul who would literally give anyone the shirt off her back, and she never stopped giving to those around her. Living with Lupus for nearly 35 years, Carmen was also a fighter. She never complained or said she could not do something, and even refused a wheelchair up until her last days. Carmen will always be an inspiration to her family, showing us how to live with a strong spirit and a big heart.

Carmen is survived by her husband, Juan M. Contreras Sr, her son Juan M. Contreras Jr. (Nicole), her daughters, Jessica Contreras, Sandy Mejia-Rodas (Santos), and Jannet Contreras, along with her Grandchildren, Dametre, Dabrien (Alyssa), Israel, Desiree (Erick), Briauna (Josiah), Julian, Anastasia, Andy, Aileen, Jasmin, Pedrito, Hector, Hugo, Hendrick, and Hennesies, and Hayden, and her great-grandchildren, Nayeli, Reagan, Azalea, Maliyah, Nova, Khalessie, Alyxa, Miles, Donatello, and Luna.

Carmen is preceded in death by her father, Jose Bernabe De Jesus Carranza Diaz, her mother, Cleotilde Reyes Ruiz, her sister, Maria Fidelia Carranza Reyes, her brothers, Tomas Carranza Reyes, Moises Carranza Reyes, Jose de Jesus Carranza Reyes, Isaias Carranza Reyes, and her grandson, Juan Damian Contreras.