April 14. On this date in 1994, Carmen de Burafato died Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. Along with her husband Samuel Burafato, she pioneered to Mexico in 1957 and the two were elected to the inaugural NSA of Mexico in 1961. She also served as a Counsellor on the Continental Boards of Central America and the Americas.

 

April 14. On this date in 1994, Carmen de Burafato died Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. Along with her husband Samuel Burafato, she pioneered to Mexico in 1957 and the two were elected to the inaugural NSA of Mexico in 1961. She also served as a Counsellor on the Continental Boards of Central America and the Americas.

Details of Carmens early life are scarce, other than that she was from Mexico. She became a Bahá'í in the San Francisco Bay area in 1948, and married US veteran Samuel Burafato in 1950. The two pioneered to Mexico in 1957 during the Ten Year Crusade after Carmen wrote a letter to Shoghi Effendi asking how they could serve the Faith and received a reply saying that she should return to Mexico. Sam became a Bahá'í shortly after the move.

In 1961 Carmen and her husband were elected to the inaugural National Spiritual Assembly of Mexico with Samuel serving as Chairman and Carmen serving as recording secretary. When Enoch Olinga visited Mexico in May, 1961, Carmen served as interpreter for him accompanying him to several pastoral villages. In 1964 she was appointed as an Auxiliary Board member for propagation of the Faith assisting Ugo Giachery with his work as Hand of the Cause in Mexico, Central America and the Antilles. In 1967 she assisted in organizing an International Conference in Panama where the cornerstone of the Panama Temple was laid, delivering invitations to embassies and consulates.

In 1968 Carmen was appointed an inaugural Counsellor for Central America by the Universal House of Justice. In 1980 she was appointed for a five year term to the Continental Board of the Americas, formed when the Board for Central America was merged with the Boards for North and South America. She was re-elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of Mexico after her term as Counsellor ended and served on the body until 1992. She served on the Local Spiritual Assembly of San Miguel Allende until passing in 1994.

The Universal House of Justice cabled the following to the National Spiritual Assembly of Mexico following her Assembly:

DEEPLY SADDENED LOSS OUTSTANDING PROMOTER FAITH CARMEN BURAFATO. HER EXTENSIVE TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, CROWNED BY HER MANY YEARS AS COUNSELLOR IN THE AMERICAS, ARE UNFORGETTABLE. MAY HER EXAMPLE INSPIRE THE MEXICAN BELIEVERS NEW HEIGHTS OF DEDICATION. ADVISE HOLD MEMORIAL MEETINGS MEXICO. OFFERING FERVENT PRAYERS PROGRESS HER NOBLE SOUL ABHA KINGDOM. KINDLY CONVEY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES HER HUSBAND, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.