Carlos Oropeza Canez
Portrait of Carlos Canez, by way of The Los Angeles Times.
Carlos Oropeza Canez was born November 16, 1959 and died on June 20, 2020 from complications of Covid-19. In accordance with his wishes, there was a private service for immediate family members.
Carlos is survived by his wife Angie; brothers Antonio, Frank, and Raymond; sisters Jane and Connie, sisters-in-law Delores and Sandra; children Xavier, Carlos Jr., Samantha, Emanuel, and Adriana; stepdaughter Nina; grandchildren Gabrielle, Xander, and Grace, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Way back in 1971, in Lamont, California, Carlos and Angie were childhood sweethearts. Out of touch for years, they reconnected in 1998, and married in 2011. On his obituary page, Angie wrote, "You are my first and only love of my life, my world, my best friend, my happiness, my everything, my forever. You are forever in my heart, my precious, beautiful, loving husband. Until we meet again in Paradise, Heaven has gained a beautiful soul."
Photograph of Carlos and Angie Canez, courtesy of Angie Canez, by way of Dignity Memorial.
When COVID-19 began spreading at Avenal State Prison in California, the kitchen became the prison's hot spot. At first Carlos refused to work in the kitchen. After praying about it, he submitted to those in authority and courageously went to work in the kitchen as he had been instructed. Carlos became the first person incarcerated at the prison to succumb to COVID-19. He watches over his earthly family from his Heavenly Home.
As a young boy, Carlos was charming and charismatic. His sister-in-law Sandra said, "He was a kind guy, and he could talk to anybody. My husband used to call him ‘silver tongue.’" Carlos was voted Best Dressed in high school. He loved baseball, Soul Train, disco dancing, and family.
Carlos spent a lot of time extending love to his family. His son Xavier said he remembered his father teaching him to pitch when he was teaching his own son. His daughter Samantha wrote, "For as long as I can remember you've sent me birthday cards, letters, and handmade gifts without missing a beat. Through a tough life situation, you made it clear that your family, children, and grandchildren were always the silver lining."
Carlos attended classes and graduated from the Avenal education program. "It was one of the proudest moments of his life,” Sandra said. Making good use of his time, Carlos studied psychology and mentored younger people. Sandra recalled that he had told her, "I take them aside, I talk to them."
Carlos and his family recognized that although he made mistakes, his mistakes did not define him. "He made some bad choices," said Xavier. And still he continually worked to become a better husband, father, and human, encouraging others to do so as well.
"His decisions in his life have given me the ability to have an open heart and open mind, and to see people for who they are versus what they've done. A strength I took from him was to never judge anyone," his son Carlos Jr. said. "Love people for who they are, and forgive people."
One can imagine Carlos is "show[ing] everyone in Heaven those smooth moves, silver tongue, and perfectly creased up pants," befriending every soul he meets.
Carlos had solid plans for after his release. He was going to become a counselor. He was going to have family barbecues. He was going to attend and play baseball games and pitching practices. He was going to dance.
We remember Carlos with love.
This memorial was written by MOL team member Shirley Anne McCulley with information from obituaries by Dignity Memorial and The Los Angeles Times. Transcribed by Mirilla Zhu.
