Raymond Mirelez

Raymond Mirelez, age 79, passed away on Friday, May 18, 2018 at Sunny Hill Nursing Home.

Raymond is survived by his loving sisters, Mary “Lucy” Esquivel and Maria Chadwick of Whittier, CA; sister-in-law, Arlene Mirelez of Minneapolis, MN; special nieces and nephews, Linda S. Rodriguez, Oscar Esquivel, Sylvia Esquivel, Gloria (James) Coyl and Lisa (Edgar) Gonzalez; great-nieces, Briana Coyl, Liliana P. Rodriguez, Mallory Gonzalez and Samantha Gonzalez; great-nephews, Rene (Felicia) Rodriguez, Jakob Coyl and Lucas Coyl; special cousin, Paula Jarrett; special family friend, Juanita Verdin and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceded in death by his parents, Cleofas and Maria (nee Leon) Mirelez; brothers, Jeronimo (Hope) Mirelez and Alfredo Mirelez; sister, Josephine (Adolph) Barron; nephew, Pete Rodriguez and dear devoted friend, George Lopez.

Ray was born and raised in Pittsburg, OK and resided in Joliet, IL. Ray worked for Kroehler Furniture, Julius Wile & Sons and retired from Everpure. He enjoyed fishing, watching old western movies as well as classic country music. Ray was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and Chicago Bears fan.   He had a great sense of humor, enjoyed sharing his life stories of Oklahoma and always had a good joke to tell. Ray will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

The family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the kind staff at Sunny Hill Nursing Home, especially Margarite, Candida, Liz, Diedra, Rhonda, Tiffany, Tammy, Terri, Vivian and Joann; the special Sunny Hill residents Ray met along the way, Margaret, Rosie, Wayne, Steve, Jaimie, Bonnie, Ann, Caroline, and the late Hope Angeles; as well as Joliet Area Community Hospice.

Donations in Raymond’s name may be made to Sunny Hill Nursing Home or Joliet Area Community Hospice Home.

A celebration of Raymond’s life will begin on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 with prayers in the funeral home chapel at 9:10 a.m. then driving in procession to Mt. Carmel Catholic Church  (205 E Jackson St. Joliet, IL 60432) for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Inurnment to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at Tezak Funeral Home (1211 Plainfield Road, Joliet, IL) from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.