Obituaries : Carmen Espinoza Sindt

Carmen Espinoza Sindt

October 21, 1950 - July 28,2022

Carmen's story began in 1950 in Battle Creek, Michigan where she was born to Julio and Katherine Espinoza.

Soon after, her family moved to their new hometown of Waukegan, Illinois, where she grew up and graduated from Waukegan High School with the Class of 1968.

Immediately after high school, she went to work as a civilian at the Fort Sheridan Army base near Chicago, where she met her future husband, Captain Dale H. Sindt of Keystone, Iowa.

They quickly fell in love and were married on May 24, 1969. Carmen and Dale spent their first years as a married couple stationed at the military base in Kaiserslautern, Germany. They enjoyed their time exploring Europe together, starting traditions and making memories that would last a lifetime.

While in Germany, Carmen was baptized and became a Christian, remaining a faithful member of the Church ever since.

They returned home to the U.S. in 1972 -- along with a new baby boy, Dale B. Sindt, whom Carmen soon nicknamed "Bozo" due to his comedic antics.

Carmen and her young family moved to Grayslake, Illinois, with a brief but memorable chapter spent in West Palm Beach, Florida, before moving back to Grayslake where they would spend the rest of their child-raising years.

In 1975, Carmen welcomed her daughter, Kelly, a beautiful baby girl to make her family complete.

She spent her life doing what she loved most - caring for a happy family, experiencing adventures, and creating cherished moments with her husband, children and friends.

As the kids moved on to adult life and new journeys of their own, Carmen and Dale were blessed to find themselves with an empty nest and many of the best times of their lives still to come.

In 1996, they moved to Orlando, Florida - the land of palm trees, pink flamingos and Mickey Mouse, also known as "the Happiest Place on Earth." And for them, it truly was. Carmen and Dale enjoyed many years together filled with equal parts exploration and relaxation.

Twin Grandsons Xander and Brody came along in 2003, whom she lovingly referred to as "Grandma's Doll Baby Honey-Bunnies." She spoiled the two with love, memories, and many fun vacations and holidays spent together.

Carmen was a proud and supportive military wife throughout her husband's career which took them to countless new and interesting places throughout the world.

In 2006, Dale capped off a distinguished forty-year career, retiring as a Colonel. The pair soon discovered that as wonderful as life had been up to that point, retired life was even better. They loved to travel more than anything with their son and grandsons, especially to tropical locations and on cruises throughout the Caribbean.

When not soaking up the sun in beautiful destinations, Carmen and Dale enjoyed an active social life at home in Orlando, making friends and becoming regulars at many restaurants and dinner shows.

Carmen's health unfortunately began to decline in the last year of her life, so her family made sure to treasure every moment they had together.

She unexpectedly passed away early in the morning of Thursday, July 28th, 2022. Her husband, son, and grandsons were with her during her last moments to express their love, their gratitude and goodbyes.

She is survived by her loving husband, Dale H. Sindt, son Dale B. Sindt, daughter Kelly Sindt, grandsons Xander and Brody Sindt, and many extended family members and friends who loved her very much.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her mother-in-law, Dorothy Sindt, her father-in-law, Lester Sindt, and her brother-in-law, Duane Sindt.

Memorials may be directed to two causes that were close to Carmen's heart:

The Sjögren's Foundation www.sjogrens.org

Toys for Tots www.Toysfortots.org

Funeral services will be held at 12:30PM, Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at Allen Family Funeral Options in Plano, Texas. Interment will be held at the Dallas Fort Worth VA National Cemetery at 2:30PM.

A livestream of the service will be available at www.affoplano.com