As plans are confirmed for Carmen's funeral, tributes for the performer, entrepreneur and "brave, bossy and beautiful" community heroine continue to pour. The 75-year-old died from kidney failure early yesterday morning, following months of poor health. She was surrounded by friends who had kept a bedside vigil for days at St. Vincent's Hospital. Carmen will lie in state at the Te Wairua Rapu Church at 587 Elizabeth St, Redfern tomorrow, Sunday and Monday from 1PM until 5PM. Her service is at 12.30PM Tuesday, December 20 before leaving for Rookwood Cemetery (Maori section) for an arrival at 2.30PM. Labour MP Charles Chauvel says Carmen was brave, bossy, bold, and beautiful. "With her passing we lose a friend, an icon, and an important player in the most significant period of gay history in this part of the world. Our only consolation can be that, wherever she is now, it will be a place that is incomparably more interesting and glamorous than it was yesterday before she got there." GenderBridge Chair Jaimie Veale describes Carmen as a brave and courageous woman who, in the face of discrimination and ignorance was trail-blazing for trans people and other sexual minorities. "She is an icon and inspiration for all New Zealanders to be open-minded and accepting of diversity, and to be true to themselves." Many of Carmen's sisters and drag daughters on both sides of the Tasman have taken to Facebook to pay tribute. Buckwheat says Safe journey to the angels you have gone.... Always in my heart you will stay", while Polly Filla says "always friendly and gracious, I was always suprised and flattered when you said hello to me. You'll never know how many peoples lives you touched or changed." Felicity Frockaccino says it was an absolute pleasure to have met Carmen many many years ago and perform along side her in the late 2000s. "When my work colleagues heard about her passing, each and every single person I worked with that day had a nice memory of her. It was so touching because no one knew her personally but they all were touched by Carmen's loving personality and aroha." Jordon Harris has written: "Nga mihi atu e te Kuia, e te whaea, e te wahine rongonui o te iwi Takataapui. Haere atu ra ki te waka o te Matua nui o te Rangi haere haere haere atu ra" Which translates to: "To our elder, our mother, our matriarch of the GLBTI community we acknowledge you. ... May you return to the canoe of our father, go in peace"
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 16th December 2011 - 5:49pm