Bernarda "Yaya Lemmon" Carranza Rivera

Bernarda Carranza Rivera, also known as Yaya Lemmon. Yaya was born in the beautiful colonial town of Antigua, Guatemala; on January 20, 1932. She passed away on April 24, 2024, under the caring and loving care of Haven Hospice in Gainesville, Florida. Her father, Liberato Carranza Lara, was the military secretary of El Palacio del Ayuntamiento. Her mother, Clara Luz Rivera Navarro, was a homemaker. Yaya was the eldest of three children, she was educated at a catholic school Santa Familia, and unfortunately, they became orphans early in life. Yaya finished her studies and became a teacher. She worked in different areas of education in the city of Guatemala before she earned a teaching position at Escuela Normal Rural Pedro Molina in Finca La Alameda. Little did she know she was about to meet her future husband and father of her children. After a pause from teaching to raise her children, she continued her academic studies becoming a Pedagogue at the Universidad de San Carlos de Borromeo of Guatemala and went back to the classroom. Fate would bring her idyllic life to an abrupt and tragic end, becoming a widow when she was a mere 48 years old. She moved with her children, from their quiet and peaceful life at the farm-school to the city of Guatemala, to continue teaching in one of the busiest Commercial Schools in the City. Once again, life would bring changes and she started to follow her children, who by then were exploring and initiating their careers abroad. The sweetest event happened when Yaya became a full-time grandmother. A position that she fulfilled with so much love and pride. She was blessed with eight grandboys and one grandgirl. Yaya retired from her teaching position and started to enjoy the best years of her life. Her grandkids were her joy and she followed them around with their constant travels. Just when she thought her happiness could not be more intense, the great-grandkids started to appear. Four boys and two beautiful girls, intense love at a different level. Two days before being admitted to Haven Hospice, she would be watching two of those boys play with chalk in the driveway. Her last meal would be meat-lovers (meatloaf), mashed potatoes, and peas. one of the boys’ favorite foods. Her house is the testimony of the world she lived in. A horse in a stick, die-cast cars all over that place, children's books, finger paint, play-doh, little chairs and a table, and an old vinyl LP of Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev. Yaya will be terribly missed but her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren know that she had a wonderful life. A life well lived. There will be a catholic mass and memorial at a later date in Miami, Florida. She is survived by her children Jose Daniel and Marta Ines Garcia in Guatemala; Mario Augusto Garcia, Carmen Maria del Pilar in Miami, FL; Edward Keith and Amanda Elena Lemmon in Alachua, FL; Marta Josefina Garcia in Arlington, VA; Maria Estela del Rosario Garcia de Gil, Sergio Rene Gil in Guatemala, her grandchildren Jose Roberto, Daniel Antonio y Maria Andre, Mario Andres y Kelly Garcia in Guatemala, Mario Rene and Eileen Marie Lemmon in Winter Garden, FL; Marco Antonio and Jade Courtney Lemmon in Gainesville, FL; Christian Jose in Miami, FL; Sergio Daniel, Walter Jose, and Maria de Fatima Gil Garcia in Guatemala; her great-grandbabies Jose Joaquin, Samantha, and Sofia Isabel in Guatemala; Brody William, William Javier, and Luca Lemmon in Florida. Her extended family the Escobares, as well as Grandma Peggy, Tia Paige, and Uncle Dave. She was predeceased by Professor Daniel Garcia and Ana Maria Hernando. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Yaya’s memory to the Autism Foundation at https://myasdf.org/

Bernarda "Yaya Lemmon" Carranza Rivera

January 20, 1932 - April 20, 2024