Dora V. Patino

Dora V. Patino, age 73 of Joliet, left this world from her home on October 14, 2024. She was born on January 23, 1951 to her parents Lazaro Vasquez and Esther Vasquez (nee Ramirez) in Batesville, Texas.

After spending her early childhood in Texas, Dora’s family relocated to Joliet, Illinois when she was a teenager. It was in Joliet that she met her future husband Andres M. Patino. Dora was known to compare those early days with Andres as having gum on the bottom of her shoe. No matter what she did or where she went, Andres always seemed to be stuck on her. The pair eventually married and spent thirty-three years together before his passing. In those thirty-three years, Dora was busy making a home and caring for her beloved children. Dora was fond of physical activity. She enjoyed going to the park in recent years and spending her time just walking or lightly jogging in order to stay active. Her favorite form of exercise was dancing. She could and would dance the night away at any opportunity. She loved the music of her roots, such as Tejano music, as well as the music of her youth in the form of classic oldies Rock n’ Roll. Nothing was more important to Dora than family. She not only was certain to maintain strong family relationships herself, but she also required it of her children. She undoubtedly provided the strength of the bonds that tie them all together. Dora was a bit of a fashionista, with a special affinity for dresses. Her collection in her closet could surely put even some designers to shame. Of course, one cannot build such an enviable collection of dresses without shopping. She loved to shop. Her family will fondly recall her joyous attitude around the holidays, when they would all gather together to make tamales with Feliz Navidad playing in the background. She was their leader in life, and in death she will always remain their inspiration.

Dora was preceded in death by her parents Lazaro and Esther, her husband of thirty-three years Andres M. Patino, her sons Andres Jose Patino and Eddie Davila, her brothers Lazaro Vasquez Jr. and Valdemar Vasquez, and her sister Celia Castañeda.

She is survived by her daughter Connie Vasquez, son Domingo (the late Marilyn) Davila, son Bobby (Gricelda) Davila, daughter Belinda Sanchez, son Efrain (Jacina) Sanchez, daughter Magdalena Patino, twenty-nine grandchildren with special consideration to Vanessa and Jose A. Ramos, Bianca, Julian (Shanelle) and Christopher (Bil’Ryka) Stamps, and Asia and Celina Sanchez. She also enjoyed fifty-eight great grandchildren as well as many other extended family members, friends, and loved ones.

A Celebration of Life Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 20, 2024 from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm at Tezak’s Home to Celebrate Life, 1211 Plainfield Rd. Joliet, IL 60435. All guests will be invited to rejoin the family at Tezak’s on the morning of Monday October 21, 2024 at 9:30 am for continued visitation before closing prayers and a procession to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 205 E. Jackson St., Joliet for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Following mass, Interment will take place graveside at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 1320 E. Cass St. Joliet where Dora and Andres will once again be side by side for all of eternity.