Jose A. Lopez

Jose Alexander Lopez of Chicago, age 42, passed suddenly. Adored son of Elba Rosa Barham, and beloved Step-son of Steven Barham; Dearest brother of Patty (Joseph) Brychek; Partner of Stephanie Arriaga; Faithful dog dad of Violet and the late Bella; Friend to so, so many.
Jose was a successful business owner and was in the process of opening his second restaurant. He opened Badabing Wings in 2020 during the COVID pandemic.
"The restaurant business has always been in my heart," he told Blockclub Chicago in 2022. Jose poured everything he had into his businesses and his community, and in turn the support and love from the community kept his business growing.
Outside of his businesses, he was the most devoted Dog Dad. Violet and Bella were his little worlds.
He was an incredibly loving presence who will be greatly missed.
I am more than what your eyes define me by
So blindly,
I am a veil of gifts,
Waiting for patient skies
To reach out for me the way that
Grounds do so kindly
I have been waiting to speak with you
"Away from neighborhoods that camouflage me so
Well of failure,
Away from sirens that always scream for
Help louder than I ever did,
Away from paranoia that follows me
Closely in my shadows,
And away from statistics that grow on my front lawn
As natural as weeds in gardens that were once beautiful
I've been meaning to tell you I'm running out of skies to look up to
I watch the grounds I walk on
So Closely,
I forget there's more that what's in front of me
I've been meaning to tell you I'm scared
Success doesn't often look like me
Success seems as far as distant skies
And I could never jump that high;
It seems foolish to reach my hand toward what seems impossible
But if someone could believe in me
Just As well as failure waiting for me so patiently;
Then maybe the sky won't seem impossible
We could build a human ladder to the sky
Together
But you have to believe it's possible
And I'd follow you.
It takes a Hand"
Visitation Thursday, June 20st, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Curley Funeral Home, 6116 W. 111th St. Chicago Ridge, IL; Private Interment. For Funeral info (708) 422-2700, or www.curleyfuneralhome.com.