TIPP CITY – Carmen L. Perez, age 91, of Troy, passed away on October 16, 2016 at SpringMeade Health Center.

She was born on May 6, 1925 in Fomento, Cuba, the daughter of Anselmo Otero and Carmen Otero de Alfonso, and was the last of fifteen siblings, all of whom preceded her in death.

She married Ramon B. Perez, M.D. on June 21, 1954. He preceded her in death in 2003. She is survived by her four children: Carlos (Harriett) Perez of Danville, Pennsylvania; Maria (Ed) Crist of Troy; Frank (Maureen) Perez of Springboro; and Raymond (Celia) Perez of Birmingham, Alabama. She was a loving grandmother to twelve grandchildren: Kyle Perez; Jack Perez; Nick Perez; Sarah Crist (Caleb Eggers); William Crist (Micaela Deming); Ryan Crist; Patrick Perez; Sean Perez; Adam Perez; Vince Perez; Alex Perez; and Carmen Perez, two step-grandchildren: Mindy (Crist) Webb and Michelle (Crist) McManus: and eight great-grandchildren.

Carmen earned her Master's Degree in Education at the University of Havana, and was the principal of the Catholic school in Santa Clara, Cuba. Upon moving to the United States with her husband after their marriage, the couple settled in Troy in 1962. Carmen was an avid rose gardener and won many Queen of Show awards at the Miami County Fair for her roses. She was a member of the Afternoon Garden Club and the American Association of University Women. Carmen volunteered for many years as a Spanish teacher in the Gifted and Talented Education program for the Troy City Schools.

Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Troy with Rev. Fr. James Duell officiating.  Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memorial Gardens in Vandalia.  Friends may call from 4–7 PM on Friday at Baird Funeral Home in Troy.

If so desired, contributions can be made to Hospice of Miami County or to the Glenmary Home Missioners (http://www.glenmary.org), a Catholic society of priests and brothers dedicated to establishing a Catholic presence in rural areas and small towns of the United States.

Friends may express condolences to the family through www.bairdfuneralhome.com.