Mary Granados

Mary Auxillio Espinoza Granados (Chilo)

Mas Del Sol will be held at 9:30 am, Wednesday, June 13, 2018 with Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Wake at Ottawa Funeral home will be from 4 - 7 pm, with rosary at 6:30 pm, Tuesday June 12. Final internment will be at St. Columba Cemetery.

Our mother was born March 7 1926 in Acambaro Guanajuato Mexico to Jose Marie Espinoza and Maria le la Luz Hernandez Espinoza.

She lived a wonderful life dedicated to her Family, God and helping others.

She had the courage to come to this country at a young age not knowing what to expect and not knowing when she would see her family again. She married our dad and came to take care of a family already of eight. She rolled up her sleeves and took on this challenge adopting them as her own. She was our dad’s trophy wife. Francisco obviously had good taste in women.

She was the granddaughter of a railroad man, the daughter of a railroad man and married a railroad man. She was very proud of her father and would always tell us stories about him and how he held her in a special place in his heart. Her family nickname was Chilo. Her father was a railroad foreman and she and the rest of her family lived in boxcar homes as they traveled from one railroad repair or construction project to another living in remote encampments at times. She attended schools when possible but many times her father would assign lessons and homework when not in the areas of schools. The importance of education was passed from him to her to us. I think this is where she developed her interest in rocks as that was many times all she had to play with along the railroads. She taught us how to play jacks with rocks.

She was a story teller of not only her life and background but that of our father.

She was a pioneer, not only by her life in Mexico but also by coming to this country in search of a better life. Aside from raising a family of twelve she helped many others that came to this country after her. She helped family and others acclimate to the United States and a new life here.

She was a fantastic cook who never followed any recipe cards. She could stretch a piece of meat into wonderful meal. She made the best tortillas in the world. Always a teacher, she taught many including us how to cook.

She was teacher and a student. She took night classes to learn English and encouraged others to do the same. She taught Spanish and English depending on the need. She was a teacher’s aide at St. Columba School where she sponsored plays in Spanish by her students.

She was a seamstress – learning to sew in order to make clothes for her children and herself. And of course teaching us how to sew as well. Telling us that she would not be around all of our lives so we needed to know how to at least sew on a button and iron.

A nurse, and doctor helping many with sicknesses and other ailments. One time while on a family visit to Mexico, our Dad, Bobby, Hopie and myself became very sick at the Rancho, from Montezuma’s revenge. She and a couple of other women had to get to town for penicillin and other medicines for us. She drove the old manual transmission Edsel station wagon through a dried up riverbed and washed out roads in order to get to a doctor’s office where she learned how to administer the penicillin shots to us.

A veterinarian. She loved animals. Especially birds, dogs, cats and fish. Her favorite bird was a parakeet named Skippy who she taught to dance, talk and sing. If she found a wounded bird you could guarantee she was going to mend it. Not to mention dealing with the cows that my dad had for us for milk that would occasionally get into the laundry that she had hung on the clothes line. Chasing chickens and goats.

A gardener. She loved flowers and plants making our yard on Porter Road one of the most beautiful places in the neighborhood. Our house was filled with plants and flowers that would take hours to water. In the spring, summer and fall evenings she would drag a garden hose all over the yard to water all the flowers and trees.

A geologist. She had what had to be described as an obsession with rocks. She collected so many rocks I think local gravel pits were concerned she could steal their business. She could not walk past a rock without examining it. She passed that love onto at least a couple of us.

An interpreter. She performed interpretation for many Spanish speaking people and families. The hospital and a number of Drs. asked her to interpret between themselves and patients. She also helped interpret and teach those obtaining their American Citizenship. As she did herself.

An advocate. She was an advocate for many but was particularly helping and supporting to unwed mothers.

She was a theologian with a constant thirst about the Catholic Religion and the Bible. She welcomed any opportunity to talk about God and the Saints. She constantly read and studied the Bible and knew it backwards and forwards.

She loved music and to sing. As on most days but in particularly Sundays she would sing Spanish songs from her kitchen sink and stove as she prepared Sunday dinner. She took singing and voice lessons to sing in the St. Columba Church Choir. Her voice could be heard over all the others from the Choir Loft.

A coordinator and producer of many religious ceremonies dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. I remember all of her countless hours dedicated to not only the first mass at St. Columba for the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She planned and coordinated the Mass, procession, singers and participants. She went on to do so many more around there and around the area. Her house was filled with materials, props and costumes for the many events she would plan and coordinate. She even convinced St. Columba to convert one of the sacristies into a Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe. She founded the Society of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Sometimes holding actual masses in our home which was trailblazing in the local church at the time. Each Christmas She along with our sister Felice and Mrs. Rojas would decorate one of the side altar with a Nascimento, a Mexican Manger Scene that covered the whole alter. She was well known by the Peoria Diocese including several Bishops.

She worked with the Nuns of Marquette and St. Bede on so many different activities.

She was totally dedicated to God and the Church. She joined the Altar and Rosary Society to help others and visit the sick and poor.

She worked hard as a factory worker and cleaning lady so she could buy things for her children and materials and patterns to make her own clothes.

Her reputation was spread between Ottawa, Streator, LaSalle-Peru and beyond.

She was kind to all.

She taught us manners and respect correcting us in public if necessary.

When I look back at all I know of her and her life I am so proud of how far she came and advanced in her life and journey.

She is survived by her sons Rick Granados (Monica), Raymond Granados (Shirley), Daughters Hope Kelly, (Larry), Mary Lou Helmer, (Norman), Carman Gorsuch (Donald), Sally Galvan (Joe), Juanita Barrios, (Manual), (deceased), Julie Vasquez, (Pete, deceased). Daughters in Law Mary F. Granados, wife of Frank Granados, Nancy Granados, wife of Robert. Her sister Sara Additionally she is survived by hundreds of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins both in the United States and Mexico.

She is preceded in death by her Husband of 50 years, Francisco P. Granados who passed May 11, 1995. Children Felice Granados Ramirez, Mike Granados along with wife Ruth, Robert Granados and Frank Granados and Daughter in Law Betty Granados, wife of Raymond. Her parents and brothers and sisters, Memorio, Pasqual, Incarnacion, Gloria, Maria de Jesus, Theresa.

Pall Bearers will be Grand Children; Eric Ohlendorf, Mike Granados, Maria Granados, John Granados, David Vasquez, Tanya Galvan Veras, Alex Paz. Honorary Pall Bearer Miranda Aubrey and Summer Hoagland-Abernathy.