Margarita Lopez, 90, of Cary, Loved Dancing, Sports

Margarita Lopez (nee Garcia), age 90, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 26, 2013, after a long bout with Alzheimer’s Dementia.

Margarita is predeceased by her husband, David Lopez (1995), her sisters Carmelita Gonzales & Henrietta Lorenz, and her parents, Catarino
and Portafilia (Pila) Garcia.

Surviving are her daughters, Linda Lopez of Cary, IL., and Diana Zytnowski (Larry) of Pawcatuck, CT.; granddaughter Marlynn O’Donnell (Christopher) of Mystic CT., and grandson Joe David Rodriguez of Lisle, IL. Great grandchildren, Lauren O’Donnell, Brooke O’Donnell, & Jason O’Donnell, sisters Alice Ramirez and Pauline Barrios and many nieces and nephews.

Margarita was born in Pueblo, Col., on Feb. 22, 1922, and moved to Chicago around age 10. In her teens and 20s, she joined her mother and sisters in performing Mexican dance shows at various venues in Chicago. Her love of music and dancing was a highlight of her life. She had quite the moves!

In 1966, Margarita graduated as a licensed practical nurse. She worked at Bryn Mawr Nursing Home and Park Place Nursing Home in Chicago, retiring at age 72.

Margarita was active at St. Pius Church while living in Chicago, and other community activities in the Pilsen neighborhood. She also lived in Mystic, Conn. for four years at Academy Point at Mystic Assisted Living before moving back to Chicago to live with her daughter Linda.

She was a happy member of the Cherished Place Adult Daycare for two years in West Dundee.

Margarita loved the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Bears and is fondly remembered by her family for her “dancing on the table’’ celebrating the 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl win. She will be missed by all, especially for her beautiful bright smile and positive attitude toward life.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 415 S. Buesching Rd., Lake Zurich. Services will begin on Friday with prayers at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home processing to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 33 S. Buesching Rd., Lake Zurich, for a funeral Mass at 10 a.m.

Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.

Donations to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601, would be appreciated.

For information call 847-540-8871, or www.ahlgrimffs.com