Carmen "Ma" (Villegas) Rojas

Carmen Rojas

“Ma”

Age 81 of Joliet, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 19, 2019 at home with her family by her side.

Born October 27, 1938 in Bellas Fuentes, Mexico, Carmen was a daughter of Basilio and Lucia (Chavez) Villegas. She was raised in Mexico and would go on to marry her true love, Rogelio C. Rojas. Together they made a home and raised their family. By way of Texas, Carmen and Rogelio settled into their new life in Joliet in 1967 where they would become pillars within their community. Carmen was a devout catholic and longtime parishioner of St. Patrick Catholic Church who always put her family first. She would also open her home and her heart to whomever needed help in the neighborhood. She loved to cook and cherished raising three boys and three girls, but her pride and joy were her grandchildren. They were her everything. Carmen will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children: Rogelio (Laura) Rojas, Nina (Ricky) Rojas, Lilia Rojas, Eduardo Rojas and Roberto (Kelly) Rojas; grandchildren: Iliana, Lysette, Damian, Armando, Alejandro, Anjoline, Adan, Diego, Bianca and Omar “Mo Mo”; step-grandchildren: Ryker and Rayden and sister, Rosa (the late Leopoldo) Villegas, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and god children.

Carmen is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of over 55 years, Rogelio C. Rojas on December 13, 2014; daughter: Olivia Rojas and siblings, Raul and Eloisa Villegas.

Family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday, December 22, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Road in Joliet. A celebration of Carmen’s life will continue on Monday, December 23, 2019 with prayers beginning at 9:15 a.m. in the funeral home chapel then driving in procession to St. Jude Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Angie, Georgette and the entire staff at Joliet Area Community Hospice, as well as Catholic Charities and the new family member they gained, Sara Rodriguez.