Carmen J Gomez Bonaparte of Branford, CT and Essex, CT.

Carmen Josephine Gomez Bonaparte passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026 in West Haven CT. She resided at Seacrest Retirement Home in West Haven from 2024 to 2026. Prior to that she lived at Cedar Woods in Branford for 8 years, and in Essex CT from 1983 to 2017.

Carmen was predeceased by her beloved husband Otto Macrino Bonaparte, to whom she was married for 57 years.

Carmen was born in New York on Dec. 15, 1930 to Rigmore (Rita) and Jose (Joseph) Gomez. Carmen married Otto Bonaparte on May 17, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York. She and Otto lived on Staten Island NY, Riverside and Stamford CT. In 1983, Carmen and Otto moved to Essex CT where they lived for 34 years.

Carmen enjoyed working with children as a media and graphics aide in the CT school Libraries, including Cloonan, North Street, and Greenwich H.S. As an active member of St. John’s Church in Essex, she loved caring for the nursery school children, and enjoyed the prayer group ministry and the book club ministry.

Throughout her life, Carmen had great appreciation and aptitude for the arts. Early on, this included dancing, working in sculpture, silk screening, and multi media. While living in Essex she discovered the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. She studied oil painting and pastels. She became an alumna of the Academy and experienced joy and fulfillment painting portraits, still lifes, and landscapes for 25 years. Carmen fostered a love of the arts for her two daughters as well.

Being a lifelong coastal resident, first in Stamford and then along the scenic CT River, she sailed with her husband, family and friends on the Long Island Sound, to points along the New England coast line. Carmen had a joyful and generous soul, and shared her wit and optimism with her family and many friends.

She was predeceased by two paternal half brothers, Daniel Gomez and Richard Gomez.

She leaves behind her two loving daughters, Lisa J. Bonaparte of Rockville Maryland, and Pia D. Bonaparte of Branford Connecticut, and a loving granddaughter, Rachel L. Anderson of Washington DC.

Carmen is survived by her loving brother, Joseph Gomez (wife Suzie) of Cape Coral FL, niece Marie Gomez (partner, Jamal Dixon) and grand niece and nephew Willa May and James Michael of Jersey City NJ, and her nephew Michael Gomez of Carmel NY. She leaves behind many more loving nieces, nephews, and their children, all who she held so dear. In addition, Carmen leaves behind close friends who were dedicated to her care and well being in her last year, including Ray Prokoski and Jane and Tim Caneen.

A memorial service will be held on Friday at 1:00 P.M. at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main St. Branford. Friends may call prior to the service from 12:00 to 1:00.

Family and friends are invited to share memories and good food (tba) after the service. Her ashes will be interred privately at St. John’s Memorial Garden in Essex, CT. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to donate to their local Public Broadcast an Public Radio Stations (PBS and NPR), and the Braille Institute of America (www.brailleinstitute.org). Thank you!