Carmen A. Motta

Carmen Aracelis Motta was born on October 25, 1956, to Maria and Casimiro Motta. She was born in the Dominican Republic, immigrated to Puerto Rico, and raised in New York. Carmen was a strong, resilient woman who beat many odds. As a teenager, she had her first child, Michael, followed by Buck, Clara, and Carl. Life forced her to grow up fast and threw many obstacles at her as a young mother. During the late 1970s - early 1980s she moved frequently between New York, California, and Connecticut making a life for her young family. Carmen earned her GED and trained at Monroe Technical Institute. She was known for being able to fix technical appliance malfunctions and electrical issues. With an entrepreneur spirit she had various jobs including working at casinos and airplane factories, sold hand-made jewelry, and created custom bridal and baby shower novelties to take care of her family. Carmen was not only there for her family, but helped others through Job Corps where she learned typesetting and sewing.

The relationship Carmen had with each of her children was unique. She instilled hard-working values in them and gave the gift of a mother’s lovethe best way she knew how. When tragedy took the lives of her sisters, Clarissa and Ana, and brother Pedro Motta, Carmen helped raise her nieces and nephews alongside her children. Carmen always gave from her heart with love and laughter. She provided food, clothing, a warm place to stay, and a shoulder to lean on without judgment when anyone in her family was in need.

Some of Carmen’s hobbies were playing bingo, dominoes, pitty-pat, rummy 500, and listening to music. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family. Her best friend was her mom, affectionately known as “Mami” Maria, and they lived together nearly all their lives until her mom’s passing in 2022. Carmen was a sister, nurturer, amazing grandmother, and confidant. Most importantly, she was a mom who defied the odds enduring all of life’s circumstances to take care of her children by any means necessary. She was proud of her grandchildren’s accomplishments as they have become productive, educated, young people; a meaningful legacy for Grandma Carmen and Abuela Maria.

Carmen is survived by her children: Michael Motta, Burley “Buck” Whitten (Kathy), Clara Tahtamouni, and Carl Alexander (Shanon); brothers: Domingo and Jesus Motta; nieces and nephews: Ana Motta (Tom) and grand-nephew Billy, Peter Motta (Jen), Carlos Rosa, Mentael Motta, Belkis Maria Valentin(Jose), Domingo Acosta Jr (Jen)., and Amber Tosi; and a host of grandchildren: Natalya “Tally” Whitten, Darrien “Dai Dai” Whitten, Jalal Motta, Naya Motta, Valencia Motta, Alaina Maurice-Motta, Precious Whitten, Etán Whitten, Eliyah Whitten, Samir Mohammed, Mounir Joseph, Carmen Whitten, Philippe Whitten, Karl Whitten, Brooklyn Whitten, Burley Whitten, Miguel Zapata and Kali-Anne McKnight. Carmen is deeply loved and greatly missed as a mom, grandma, and sister. She will also be missed by the significant ladies and mothers of her grandchildren: Claudine Howson, Marsha Maurice, Mashairi McClester, Crystal Bates-West, and Kathy Meranvil.

Special acknowledgments go to the significant ladies and mothers of the next Motta Generation:  Claudine Howson, Marsha Maurice, Mashairi McClester, Crystal Whitten, and Kath