Genesis Balderas

To all of my fellow friends and loved ones,

With great pain I inform you that in the early hours of February 17th, 2026 Genesis Balderas (Genny or Gen to those close to her) passed away at the young age of 34.

As I write this, I find myself in disbelief that one of my siblings has passed away. I imagined a long and prosperous life for all my siblings. One filled with joyous memories and fond stories about growing older, being a parent, raising a family, going and fulfilling our goals and living within the safety and comfort of our own homes that we create through hard work and sacrifice. I imagine that for all of you reading this, since we all have that shared experience of being a brother or sister, son or daughter, father or mother that unifies us and makes each of us relatable in that vein of thought...

See, Genesis was all those things and more...

Genesis was a mother, and she made a wonderful and handsome boy that she is leaving behind at the ripe of 15 as I write this. There's a memory that comes to mind of Jesse watching movies with her, cuddling on her bed as she lulls him to sleep. The amount of joy he gave her, and by extension all of us, for being born is indescribable. He was, and is, Genesis greatest accomplishment. He loves Genesis so much and breaking the news to him is something no 15 year old should have to experience, but he knows that Genesis loved him.

Gensis was a sister. I have many stories of her and my siblings, all together, in the two-bedroom apartment we shared with our parents in Schiller Park, off Ivanhoe and 25th Ave. We were a packed family, but I loved that apartment because those were the first real vivid memories I have of us together. Then we moved to our childhood home in Schiller Park, near Washington School and everything changed. We had more space for building forts, and playing hide and seek, and our own backyard. We bought a dog or two even though Genesis was not a dog/animal person. The birthday parties we had growing up in the garage that we would all eventual come to make more memories in. I can go on but I'll leave it at that. She's leaving behind Edna Balderas, Julio Balderas, Erendira Balderas and myself. Her siblings miss her deeply already.

Genesis was a daughter. Our parents made great sacrifices for Genesis and our family. They came from Mexico with nothing but the hope and dream to make a better life for us here in America. And they did, and while they lose a daughter, they will never lose the love she had for them while she lived and breath.

She leaves behind Jose Luis Balderas. We always teased that our Dad's favorite child was Genesis because when we were younger, those two were inseparable. She leaves behind Maria Contreras. Genesis was always slinging jokes at our Mom, and you know what, she would fling them right back. While they're relationship was unconventional, it was filled with love and tenderness that our Mom strived to always showcase, even in our saddest and darkest moments.

Most importantly, she was a friend. She was the life of the party. She had a big laugh like our Dad. She was also quiet and reserved until you got to know her. She enjoyed putting glitter on her face, dancing till she sweats and singing karaoke. Her favorite color was yellow; she loved hot Cheetos, wings and pizza with jalapenos and pepperoni. She was always trying to make people laugh, especially her family. She didn't care to embarrass herself. She was down to take a cruise with you, a real ride or die, in the late hours of the night. She was a wild and free soul and she will be seriously missed.

You have a right to know as someone who cared about Genesis that towards the final months leading up to her death was sick and couldn't be helped by conventional methods anymore. She was in emotional and physical pain that no doctor or loved one could remedy. In the end, her body and mind were unable to hold onto the living plane, but I know now she's at peace and is no longer suffering.

From the bottom of our heart,

The Balderas Family