Carmela Blumenthal

Carmela T. Blumenthal, spirited, beloved mother and grandmother passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones on June 13, 2018. She was 95.

Mrs. Blumenthal is survived by her four children and their families; Kenneth Blumenthal, Carleen Blumenthal, Kathleen Rourke, and Christine Bodo. She also had four grandchildren; Diana Tuten, Andrew Rourke, Christopher Rourke, and Megan Rourke, and five great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Carlyle G. Blumenthal, and parents, Joe and Carmella Tramontana.

Carmela, originally from St. Boniface, Pennsylvania, was adopted by Joe and Carmella. She enlisted in the Navy in 1943 during World War II and maintained her post in Vero Beach, FL until 1946. In the Navy, Carmela met her husband, Carlyle, a native New Mexican, and married on October 26, 1946. Together, Carmela and Carlyle built the family home in Albuquerque, where she lived for more than 70 years. After raising four children, Carmela went back to school and received her degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Carmela taught swimming and water exercise classes for more than 35 years and was often advising her students, “You have to use it or lose it.” A self-proclaimed “water baby,” she could often be found swimming or daydreaming about the ocean. She was an early advocate and champion of the Special Olympics organization and spent many years volunteering on S.O. events. Carmela was celebrated on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2017 as one of Albuquerque’s oldest WWII veterans.

Carmela had a vivacious, fiery spirit and will be missed immensely.

Memorial Services will be held Monday, June 18, at 9:00 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Albuquerque, 1818 Coal Place SE. Interment to follow on Tuesday, June 19, at 9:00 a.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate in memoriam to Special Olympics New Mexico, 6600 Palomas NE, Suite 207, Albuquerque, NM 87109 or Animal Humane New Mexico, 615 Virginia St. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Please visit our online guest book for Carmela at www.frenchfunerals.com.