AGUSTIN FELISISSIMO BLANCAS

Agustin Felisissimo Blancas Services will be Sunday, for Agustin Felisissimo Blancas, 97, of Chicago, who passed away on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012, with his loving children at his bedside. The day marked the 89th anniversary of the birth of his wife Yolanda Galindo Blancas, who preceded him in death in 1995. A longtime resident of Chicago, Agustin died peacefully after a lengthy illness at Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care in Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He left behind numerous relatives and friends, including many who live in the suburbs. While they mourn his passing, they celebrate his long life and the many blessings he left in legacy, and they are comforted that he reunited with Yolanda to celebrate her birthday. Visitation will be 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, followed by a memorial service at 6 p.m. at Benson Family Funeral Home, 3224 W. Montrose Ave. (near Kedzie Avenue), Chicago, 773-478-5800, http://www.bensonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Interment will be private. Memorial gifts may be made to Seasons Hospice Foundation, 6400 Shafer Court, Suite 700, Rosemont, IL 60018, http://www.seasonsfoundation.org, Agustin was born in Mexico City, D.F., Mexico, on Aug. 6, 1915, to Froylan and Agapita Blancas. He and Yolanda met in San Francisco, where she was born on Aug. 23, 1923, and married on May 26, 1943. They moved to Texas, then to Chicago in 1945, later to California for a short time and then back to Chicago in the 1950s, where they raised a large family. He was a good and sensitive man with simple wisdoms and the resolve of steel. He loved his family members without condition or judgment and was loved beyond measure by them in return. On partings, he always expressed his good-byes with a soft "God bless you," a touch on the temples and a kiss on the forehead. Agustin was employed until retirement at General Motors Electro-Motive Division in LaGrange, where he worked as a certified welding operator. He loved his work and often worked double shifts to support his family. He had many friends, who have since passed away, but he often spoke of them and the times he would bring them to his home to meet the family. He and Yolanda danced frequently, often at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. He was a triathlete in his youth, an elite long distance runner, bicyclist and swimmer who competed for a time with the Mexican national team. He possessed an active nature and love of exercise that he maintained throughout life. Even in his 90s, he still rode his bicycle by Foster Beach in Chicago and along the lakefront, some days riding from the North Side to Chinatown to buy the freshest squid to make his soup for the day. He loved being in the outdoors, no matter the weather. Agustin enjoyed dancing; riding his bicycle; playing chess with his sister Eliza, now 92; trying new restaurants; reading all the daily newspapers; the lakefront; and visiting with his children and the family. He was well known in his neighborhood at Winthrop and Hollywood and often stood with neighbors talking up the day. He was independent and active until his health declined in 2009 after his 94th birthday. His spent his last months at Ambassador Nursing Home on Bernard St. in Chicago. He will be dearly missed for his cheerful, positive, loving manner. Agustin made sure that other people were comfortable, he cared about how other people were doing, always making sure that they knew they mattered. Putting his own needs aside frequently, he would listen patiently, seldom gave advice unless asked, and comforted those around him even while his own health was declining. A very loving husband, father, father-in-law, brother, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather, he died surrounded by his children near the lakefront that he loved. Survivors include six children, Delia M. (and Thomas) Squires, Evangelina C. Acosta, Lucy (and John) Lampinen, Augustine (and Gladys) Blancas Jr., Ricardo (and Elisa) Blancas and Agapita Victoria Smith; one sister, Eliza Blancas; 14 grandchildren, Neva-Marie, Dina, Michael James, Joey, Monica, Aisha, Miranda, Justin, Salvador, Danny, Jessica, Eva, Danielle, Adam; several great-grandchildren, including Nicholas, Christina, Elijah, Anthony, Mark, Collin, Katia, Laney, Sebastian, Leila Jasmine Love, Bella, Nina, Gabriel, and one due in December 2012, a little boy from his granddaughter, Jessica; great-great-granddaughter, Sophia; and several nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.