Luis Fregoso

Luis Fregoso, 85, of Chicago, Illinois peacefully passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at home surrounded by his wife Natividad Galeana Fregoso and his children Elizabeth Fregoso, Esther Fregoso, Luis (Raquel) Fregoso, and Edith (Guy) Beardsmore.

He was born in Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco, Mexico to Luis Fregoso and Soledad Medina Fregoso. Luis came to the United States as a 19-year-old, fresh out of the Mexican Navy to visit his sister in New York, where he met his future and former wife Maria E. Santiago, mother to his children.

Luis established himself in Island Park, NY, then lived and initially raised his family in Cidra, Puerto Rico where he was lovingly referred to as "El Mexicano." There he built his family a home with his own hands and made friends with whom he had life-long ties. In 1973, Luis brought his family to Chicago, where he resided mostly in Logan Square, for the remainder of his life. He was a carpenter by trade but lived to learn and was self-taught in many things. He loved to tell stories, to share knowledge and to guide.

Growing up his family could always count on some type of trip, short or long he made them special; donuts and home-made cinnamon tea at the Lincoln Park Zoo lagoon, or he'd bring birote con frijoles. He loved the outdoors, Humboldt and Horner Parks, and Montrose Beach where he consistently took his family for cookouts and beach days. For many years he took his family back to New York and loved to take them out and about and point out architectural styles, bridges, streets, discuss and give history lessons along the way. He had a great sense of humor and could catch you off guard with a quick one-liner with precision timing.

Luis was "Abuelo" to Carlos and Andrew (Amy) Ayala, Joshua (Yesenia), Jools, and Jesse Rosa, Elliott (Valeria) Cruz, Priscilla Rodriguez, Jose Arroyo, Luis, David, and Moses Fregoso, Leo and Emilio Beardsmore. In addition, Luis was blessed with great-grand-children Mia Ayala and Jacobi Scheelk, Xavier Adorno and Lorenzo Ayala, Abel and Kaleesi Rosa, Elliott Jr. and Justin Cruz, Izaya and Laylah Arroyo. He loved and was loved in return by his cat Cody, his loyal companion. Other very special people in Luis's life include Nicholas (Angela) Sackaris, Sabrina Zambrano, and Rafael Rodriguez.

As the only one of his siblings living in Chicago, he was essentially here on his own until he created this family. He held us tight and never wavered in his duty to us. He expressed his love but balanced it with a "you'll figure it out" attitude knowing to give us room to make mistakes, learn, and grow. We, his family, will remember our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather as a fierce protector, a loving and funny man that made the best meatballs and true to his fashion, and with a chuckle, took the recipe to the grave.

Funeral mass at St. John Berchmans Catholic Church, 2517 W. Logan Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60647, on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 10 am. Celebration of Life at Humboldt Park Fieldhouse, 1440 N. Humboldt Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60622, on Saturday, September 6, 2025, 12:30-4 pm, eulogy and words of remembrance at 1:30 pm.