Carmen Arelis Torres, aged 54, of Hyde Park, entered into eternal life on Saturday, September 5, 2020 after a long battle with Multiple System Atrophy. She was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on July 18, 1966, to her late parents, Pedro De La Cruz and Orquidea Torres. She was the loving wife of Manuel Jimenez.
Arelis had a smile for everyone she met and always gave of herself to help others. She enjoyed dressing elegantly, dancing, listening to music, and spending time with her family. Prior to her illness, she was a dedicated and compassionate home health aide and caregiver.
Growing up in Santo Domingo, Arelis, who lost her mother at the tender age of eight, assumed responsibility for her brothers, always making sure they were well fed and cared for. As an adult, she was a devoted and loving mother and grandmother whose greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her husband, Manuel Jimenez; her daughters, Orquidea Peña and her husband Alito, and Pamela Jimenez; her son, Emanuel Jimenez; her stepdaughter, Claudia and her husband Luis; her grandchildren, Aiden, Aaron, Cesar, Yariel, Clarieliz, and Emmanuel; her brothers, Francisco Torres, Juan Carlos Torres, Gerardo Arias, and Camilo Arias; her sisters, Olga Luis and Samalia Luis; her comadre and best friend, Wendy and compadre Diomedes; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews; and many close friends.
The family would like to thank her doctors and nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for their dedicated care and support over the past three years.
Visiting hours, while respecting social distancing guidelines, for family and friends will be held at the Brady & Fallon Funeral Home, 10 Tower Street, Jamaica Plain (Opp. Forest Hills MBTA Station) on Friday, September 11, 2020 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. Her family will gather again at the funeral home on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM before traveling to The Gardens Cemetery – Gethsemane, West Roxbury for a graveside service.
Gifts in her memory may be made to support Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA) research under the direction of Dr. Vikram Khurana at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Memorial gifts can be made online at www.bwhgiving.org or written checks can be made payable to Brigham and Women's Hospital with “in memory of Carmen Torres” in the memo line for either. Checks should be mailed to: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Development Office, 116 Huntington Ave., 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02116. Gifts may also be made to the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition at https://www.multiplesystematrophy.org/msa-donation/