Maria de Jesus Gallegos

Maria de Jesus Gallegos Mácias was born on December 31, 1936, in San Pedro Cahro Venustiano Carranza, Michoacán, Mexico. She was a dedicated and devoted daughter and champion for her parents, Jesus Mácias Moreno and Margarita Magallón, and 7 brothers and sisters.

Always the ambitious spirit, she was the first in her family to venture to the big city, Mexico City. There she made miraculous inroads by working at Salinas y Rocha, one of the country's most prominent department stores. Those endeavors supported her brothers' education to become engineers and thereby support her family in her pueblo.

Maria believed in destiny and that destiny introduced her to her husband, Guadalupe Gallegos, Jr. a WWII veteran from the United States. Their love opened a whole new world for her, and she took great advantage of her destiny in becoming an American citizen. Her husband empowered her to navigate this new world where education and progress were important to her. Together they raised their three children: Dinorah, Enrique and Marcela. After tragically losing her husband, Maria's tenacity allowed her to face the challenge of being a young widow; she stepped into retail work with limited English and earned top retail sales awards at JCPenney. Always an entrepreneur, she recognized a new opportunity and ventured into opening a tailoring shop and retail store, "A Professional Touch," in Lansing, IL, which she ran from 2001 to 2011. Here her longtime and loyal customers became her friends, appreciating her business savvy, honesty and no-nonsense approach.

After retiring, Maria lived a quiet and faith-filled life with her beloved children, grandchildren, extended family, friends, nieces, nephews and granddog; and enjoying a cold Miller Genuine Draft. She is survived by her three children, three grandchildren (Samantha, Jessica, and Crystal) and sisters (Aurora Arzate and Guadalupe Cavazos) and brother (Enrique Mácias). Maria's 87 years of life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, October 18, 2024, at St. Francis of Assisi, 813 W. Roosevelt Road; Chicago 60608. Viewing will be held from 10:30-11:00 am and her funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 am. Memorial donations can be made in Maria's memory to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, 721 N. LaSalle St.; Chicago, IL 60654 or Prairie State College Foundation on behalf of Adult Education and Literacy, 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights, IL, 60411, (708) 709-3500.