Maria del Carmen Hama

Maria del Carmen Yriñez Fernandez Hama died peacefully in her sleep on December 14, 2023, at the age of 94. Carmen was born on October 26, 1929, in Madrid, Spain, the daughter of Luis Yriñez and Rafaela Fernandez. She met Michael Hama, her beloved husband of 69 years, while she was living and studying in London and he was serving in the United States Air Force. Carmen loved to travel, and their nearly 30-year career in the Air Force took them to Utah, Arkansas, Libya, Ohio, Missouri, Spain, and California before retiring in Albuquerque in 1979. Among her proudest achievements was her civil service career, where she served as a computer punch card operator on the Space Shuttle program at Edwards AFB and later in the Travel Office at Kirtland AFB. Carmen was very active, and enjoyed cooking for family and friends, dancing, swimming, bowling, playing bingo, and doing the crossword puzzle every day. She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister Luisa Fernandez, whom she visited every summer in Madrid while she was able. Carmen is survived by her husband; her daughter Karen Hama, a teacher of children with special needs in the Albuquerque Public School system; her son Mark, a university professor who currently works and lives in San Angelo, Texas; her daughter and son-in-law, Denise and Jim Mobley, of Austin, TX; and her nieces and nephews in Spain and the U. S. Carmen was especially proud of her two grandchildren, Sebastian Hama and Lincoln Hama, both of whom currently live and study in Durham, NC. She will be greatly missed by her family and all her many friends. A Funeral Mass will be said Friday, January 5, 2024 at 10:00 AM at The Shrine of St. Bernadette Catholic Church. The family will receive friends Thursday, January 4, 2024 from 5-7 PM with a Rosary being recited at 6 PM at FRENCH-Lomas. Please visit our online guestbook for Mrs. Hama at www.FrenchFunerals.com.