Maria "Carmen" Oliva

Maria “Carmen” Oliva, age 81, died on November 9, 2024, at Adventist Health Bolingbrook with many family members by her side. Carmen was born in Jalisco, Mexico on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1942, to her parents Nicolas Flores and Merecedes Angulo. 

Carmen left Mexico for the United States in 1996 at the age of 54. She was married to her husband Eladio Oliva for 45 years before his passing in 2004. The two of them raised a wonderful family of ten children. Carmen worked tirelessly to provide a warm, comforting home full of love for her children. Her skills in the kitchen were beyond compare, and she loved to spend her free time with her kids and grandkids. She will always be remembered for being the best cook, especially when making her tamales, birria, and carne en su jugo.

Carmen was preceded in death by her parents Nicolas and Mercedes, her husband Eladio, her siblings Guadalupe, Erlinda, Teresa, Miguel, Jesus, Jose, Andres and her son Ernesto. 

She is survived by her children Leticia, Hector, Enrique, Marisela, Veronica, Jose Antonio, Luis Gerardo, Mario Alberto, Miriam, her many grandchildren, great grandchildren and numerous siblings.

Carmen was a culinary artist whose kitchen was a sanctuary of warmth, love, gatherings and celebrations. She had the remarkable ability to create not just meals, but memories, making every dish a gift of love. Her recipes will remain cherished treasures, and her legacy as a cook will forever be a part of her family's story. She created many loving memories in her home, accompanied by her perico Polly . Her love for her family knew no bounds, and her devotion was the cornerstone of the family’s strength and unity. Her legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who continue to carry her spirit within them.

An honorable mention to her grandchildren Cesar, Richard, Jose L., Edgar, Kevin, Alondra, Alejandro, Maricarmen, Gabriela, Anthony, Dayana, Adrianna, Jose A. Jr, Xavier, Eric, Jessica, Luis G., Brian, Isaiah, William, Aiyana, Dayra, Liliana, Damian, Maddison, and great grandchildren, Alexis, Brianna, Desirae, Angel, Richard, Alayna, Christian, Aiden, Annalise, Maxine, Santino, and Avianna.

A Celebration of Life Visitation will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Tezak’s Home to Celebrate Life, 1211 Plainfield Rd. Joliet, IL 60435. All guests are invited to rejoin at Tezak’s Home to Celebrate Life on the morning of Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 9:30 am for closing prayers before travelling in procession to St. John the Baptist Church, 404 N. Hickory St., Joliet, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. A Graveside Interment will immediately follow Mass at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 23060 W Jefferson St. Joliet.

En Espanol:

María "Carmen" Oliva, de 81 años, falleció el 9 de noviembre de 2024 en Adventist Health Bolingbrook con muchos familiares a su lado. Carmen nació en Jalisco, México, en la víspera de Navidad, el 24 de diciembre de 1942, de padres Nicolás Flores y Merecedes Angulo. 

Carmen se fue de México a Estados Unidos en 1996 a la edad de 54 años. Estuvo casada con su esposo Eladio Oliva durante 45 años antes de su fallecimiento en 2004. Los dos criaron una maravillosa familia de diez hijos. Carmen trabajó incansablemente para brindar un hogar cálido, reconfortante y lleno de amor para sus hijos. Sus habilidades en la cocinaeran incomparables y le encantaba pasar su tiempo libre con sus hijos y nietos. Siempre será recordada por ser la mejor cocinera, especialmente cuando preparaba sus tamales, birria y carne en su jugo.

A Carmen le precedieron en la muerte sus padres Nicolás y Mercedes, su esposo Eladio, sus hermanos Guadalupe, Erlinda, Teresa, Miguel, Jesús, José, Andrés y su hijo Ernesto. Le sobreviven sus hijos Leticia, Héctor, Enrique, Marisela, Verónica, José Antonio, Luis Gerardo, Mario Alberto, Miriam, sus muchos nietos, bisnietos y numerosos hermanos.

Carmen era una artista culinaria cuya cocina era un santuario de calidez, amor, reuniones y celebraciones. Tenía la notable habilidad de crear no solo comidas, sino recuerdos, haciendo de cada plato un regalo de amor. Sus recetas seguirán siendo tesoros preciados, y su legado como cocinera siempre será parte de la historia de su familia. Creó muchos recuerdos amorosos en su hogar, acompañada de su perico Poly. Su amor por su familia no conocía límites, y su devoción era la piedra angular de la fuerza y la unidad de la familia. Su legado sigue vivo en sus hijos, nietos y bisnietos, que siguen llevando su espíritu dentro.

Una mención honorífica a sus nietos César, Richard, José L., Edgar, Kevin, Alondra, Alejandro, Maricarmen, Gabriela, Anthony, Dayana, Adrianna, José A. Jr., Xavier, Eric, Jessica, Luis G., Brian, Isaiah, William, Aiyana, Dayra, Liliana, Damian, Maddison, y bisnietos, Alexis, Brianna, Desirae, Angel, Richard, Alayna, Alayna, Christian, Aiden, Maxine, Annalise, Maxine, Santino y Avianna.

A Celebration of Life Visitation will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Tezak’s Home to Celebrate Life, 1211 Plainfield Rd. Joliet, IL 60435. All guests are invited to rejoin at Tezak’s Home to Celebrate Life on the morning of Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 9:30 am for closing prayers before travelling in procession to St. John the Baptist Church, 404 N. Hickory St., Joliet, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. A Graveside Interment will immediately follow Mass at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 23060 W Jefferson St. Joliet.