Dana Carrera

Dana Caulk Carrera passed peacefully in her sleep on March 26, 2022, surrounded by the love and laughter of her family and friends. The traits she exhibited during her long battle with cancer were hallmark, familiar and dear to all who knew her. She was strong, courageous, and optimistic. She demonstrated grace and gratitude. All of these wonderful things, tender and true.
Those who knew Dana appreciated the love she lavished upon them. She was constant and supportive in her friendships, sending cards to share a thought, a line of love, or a laugh. Dana knew how to love. It was her greatest gift, one she shared without pause or consideration. She was good at sharing: sharing her life, her treasures, her time. She gave generously to old friends and new. She had an open heart and was a true humanitarian.
Dana was adventurous and always ready to try something new. She climbed Mt Whitney and Half Dome in California, explored Machu Picchu in Peru, ziplined in Central Mexico and Hawaii, jumped out of planes, drove motorcycles and cool cars, played a pretty good game of golf, and was a great partner in fun. She also had a wonderful aesthetic and surrounded herself with objects of beauty substantial and small.
Dana graduated from Monache High School in 1973, went on to Fresno State University for her BA in Business, then to Fresno Pacific for her MA in Education. She will be best remembered in Fresno for the hundreds of students she taught over her career as an instructor in Fresno's Unified School District. The kids she chose, those she loved best, were those who fell somehow outside the normal path to graduation. Those who needed extra help or support found it in Dana, a teacher, like her father, who cared for the student and the person with equal compassion and interest.
Dana was born in Porterville, California, in June of 1955, to Dearl and Bobbie Caulk, her beloved parents. She grew up with four siblings, Joel Caulk of Massachusetts, Robin de la Llata Aimé of Monterey CA, Leslie Garman of Valencia CA, and Steven Caulk of Porterville, and her brothers through marriage, Jack Aimé and Greg Garman. Her son, her best treasure, is Ryan Porteroff of Clovis CA. Her grandchildren, Ali, Averi, Shaun, Gunnar, Indie, Dax, and Saylor, brought pure joy into her life. Dana also loved her nieces and nephews, Jennifer Smith, Aubree Garman, Richard Aimé, Spencer Martin, Madison Caulk, William Aimé, and Taylor Stockman. She is preceded in death by her father, Dearl Caulk of Porterville, her niece, Camila de la Llata of Monterey, and the love of her life, Jeffrey Kuhn of San Antonio, TX.
Dana will also be remembered and missed by dear friends of long standing, some from girlhood, others from adulthood, new friends in Houston, and those dear doctors who shared her hope and sustained her health from MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, TX, particularly Dr Apostolia Tsimberidou and Dr Kanwal Raghav. Dana was grateful that their work allowed her to contribute to on-going cancer research around the world.
A memorial service celebrating Dana's life will be held at the Porterville Church of the Nazarene on Saturday, May 7, at 11:00 a.m.