Karmelita "Carmen" H. Miranda

Karmelita “Carmen” Hidrogo Miranda was born May 18th, 1949, to parents Samuel Hidrogo and Juanita Herandez in Wheelock, Texas. She was actually born just two and a half minutes after her identical twin, Maria.

She graduated from Franklin High School in 1969 where she was a member of the pep squad. Shortly after the passing of her mother, she moved to Bryan and began working at Condon’s Bakery. There she met the love of her life and a year later they were married. She married Johnnie Flores Miranda in 1971 and they resided in Bryan. Carmen worked for many years in the retail industry for Weiner’s Department Store until accepting a position with a local church. She served as secretary for Sanctuary of Praise in Bryan until the birth of her first grandchild.

Carmen was an inquisitive and talented individual whose heart was to Love God and serve her community. You would often find Carmen providing meals, baking cookies and cakes for families in need. She would volunteer countless hours to ensure that the need was being met. She set an example to her family, “If you see a need, try your best to fill it.” Carmen was a woman of faith who was loving and caring, who accepted and adopted you into her family. She was known as “buela” or “tia” to many children who she took care of as their parents worked. She was resilient and stubborn in her own right, but in so many ways touched many lives. On any given weekend, you would see the family invite friends for a meal and rest after church service. Carmen and her husband would provide snacks after a Sunday night service or a Wednesday midweek service.

Carmen had a great love for crafting and incorporating those ideas into the children’s ministry. She would spend hours and personal resources in creating puppets and a stage set up. Many times, she would be inspired to create something new. It was a welcomed challenge and her attention to detail was impressive. She lived by Phillipians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” She poured selflessly into the ministry. She was involved in Children’s ministry, Midweek Boys Ministry (I,e Royal Rangers), and community outreaches. Carmen loved to worship Christ. She would sit quietly, hands raised, eyes closed, meditating on the words of the songs. This was where she drew her strength and peace. Many may remember her for her love of cooking and sharing those enchiladas, huge flour tortillas, and tamales, baking gingerbread cookies or decorating cakes for special occasions. In recent years, Carmen would faithfully send her loved ones a daily scripture verse, the weather report or both.

Growing up, Carmen and her sister, Maria, were close and always up to something. There was never a dull moment when working and residing at the Doricourt Egg Farm. Carmen knew how to push all the right buttons to start an egg fight with her sister.

Carmen is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Johnnie Miranda, her daughters, Caroline and husband Noel Padilla, grandson Joshua Padilla of College Station, Cynthia and her husband Rafael Herrera, granddaughters Rachab and Jillian Herrera, grandson Jeremiah Herrera of Bryan. Sister Maria and husband Andrew Narro of Franklin Brothers Carlos Hidrogo of Riesel, Jesse Hidrogo of Burleson, Joe and wife Dalia Hidrogo of Franklin, Sisters Stella Hidrogo of Lufkin, Tami Hidrogo of Franklin, Connie Rodriguez of Bryan, Maria Sanchez of Bryan, Mary and husband Tim of Bryan, Hope and husband Alex of Bryan. Numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by father, Samuel Hidrogo, mother, Juanita Hidrogo, brothers Leonard Hidrogo, Vicente Hidrogo and Louis Hidrogo.

A visitation will be held Monday, April 7th from 5-7 p.m.at Callaway Jones Funeral and Cremation Center located in Bryan. A celebration of life interment will be held Tuesday, April 8th at 10 a.m. Wheelock Cemetery. In honor of Carmen the family is requesting to wear green.