Q&A with Carmen Pacheco

Carmen Pacheco, executive assistant for the La Casa Family Health Center, is trying to pass on the lessons she learned growing up as part of a large, close-knit family on to her two daughters.

What do you think about Portales?

“I have lived in Portales for 18 years, moving from Tucumcari to attend Eastern New Mexico University. I think Portales has been a great place to raise my daughters.”

Tell us about a time you cried:

“I lost both my parents within a one-year span. When I was 17 my mother passed away, one year later at 18, I lost my dad. I don’t think I have ever cried so much or so hard.”

Tell us about a happy time:

“A happy time for me was giving birth. To my two beautiful daughters. What a miracle.”

Tell us a story about your childhood:

“One of the many, great things about having such a large family is that you always have your own baseball, basketball, volleyball team. I loved family outings when we would gather at the city park in Tucumcari, have a game of softball or volleyball and eat watermelon at the end of the day. What a great summer day that was.”

Who is your hero and why?

“My mom and dad are my heroes. I come from a large family nine girls and three boys. The fact that they raised that many children and still made special time for each of us, the love that they shared, the love they gave each of us, the family values and the bond between all of my brothers and sisters is incredible. I am the luckiest girl because I had such wonderful parents. They are my heroes.”

Tell us about your greatest individual accomplishment:

“My biggest accomplishment is raising my girls as a single parent. Not an easy task. I pride myself in that my daughters are growing up to be independent, hard working, respectful, young women with great family values.”

What’s your favorite part about your job?

“I have worked for La Casa for 13 years. I love what the organization offers our community. Everyone deserves top quality health care and I believe that is what La Casa provides. The mission and my co-workers make my job a great place to work.”

— Compiled by Angela Peacock