Carlota Mata Luna

Carlota was born on November 4, 1929 in San Gil, a small railroad town in rural Aguascalientes, Mexico.  Carlota was the first of 15 children born to Nicolas Mata Navarro and Carmen Luna Montero, unfortunately three of the children did not survive to childhood.  As the eldest daughter Carlota was expected to help her mother with household chores and with raising the other children.  As a result, she couldn’t proceed beyond the 3rd grade.  She was, however, an intelligent woman and, as it would turn out, a savvy businesswoman.

As her siblings grew older and could begin helping their mother around the house, Carlota began working outside the home more and more to help the family makes ends meet.  Eventually she got a job as a household servant for Enrique Perez Leon, an engineer from Mexico City who was working on a large dam and irrigation project nearby.  Carlota would wind up working for Sr. Perez Leon, on and off, until his passing in 2001.

In 1963 Carlota found herself pregnant and unmarried.  At the time, of course, this was very serious and an embarrassment to the family.  Her father kicked her out of the house with nothing more than the clothes on her back.  Homeless, pregnant, and without a husband, she scraped together what little money she had and traveled to Mexico City, hoping that Sr. Perez Leon would give her work.

Sr. Perez Leon took Carlota in and hired her as a domestic servant, allowing her to live in the servant’s quarters behind his house in Coyoacan, D.F.  It was there that Carlota gave birth to her only child, Maria Victoria (Vicky).   Over the years, Sr. Perez Leon, who had no children of his own, became more of a father figure to Vicky, although his relationship with Carlota was more complicated.  During his career as an Agricultural Engineer Sr. Perez Leon had collected antiques and, after his retirement, he turned this into a second career.  He opened a store in the fashionable San Angel district of Mexico City where he and Carlota spent many years buying and selling antiques.  It was here that Carlota’s natural talents as a businesswoman became clear.  

It was during this time that Sr. Perez Leon assisted Carlota’s daughter with her education; paying for her to attend a private school in Cuernavaca and, eventually, Loyola Marymount University in California where she followed his example and became a Civil Engineer.  

Carlota remained with Sr. Perez Leon until his death in 2001.  With life in Mexico City becoming more and more difficult she returned to Aguascalientes and settled into a comfortable life until even that became too difficult for her to manage on her own.  At that time, in 2018, she moved to Utah to live with her daughter and her family.  In her final years Carlota was able to enjoy her grandchildren and, eventually, a great-grandson.  

No matter where she lived, Carlota had a way of caring for people.  She had many “children” wherever she went.  Her loving personality always showed through and everyone was attracted to her.  Her great faith in God and her devotion to Nuestra Senora de San Juan de Los Lagos saw her through many difficult times in her life. Her faith and love showed through to those around her.

Carlota is survived by her daughter Maria Victoria (Vicky) Doehring (Fred), her grandchildren Josef Doehring and Gabrielle Nogues (Julio), and Great-grandson Mateo Nogues, as well as many brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.   

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 946 S 200 E, Salt Lake City.  Commmittal to follow at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 4th Ave and “T” Street.