Obituary for Maria Teresa Arellano (Montalvo)
Maria Teresa Arellano, a long-time resident of Chicago, died on September 20th, 2023, peacefully, surrounded by her six children and family. She is survived by her children, Maria Elena Luzuriaga, Sonia (Alejandro) Espinosa, Jorge Arellano, Alicia (Mark) Thompson, Teresa Sanchez and Maggie (Milan) Momcilovic; Grandchildren, Malena Luzuriaga, Roberto Luzuriaga, Maria Elina Espinosa, Juan Carlos (Maria Jose) Espinosa, Jorge Antonio Sanchez; and Great Grandson, Samuel Espinosa.
Maria Teresa was born in Guasuntos, Ecuador, on April 14th, 1928. She married Jorge Arellano in 1947 and had six children. Maria Teresa left Ecuador for the United States, in 1965, to join her husband Jorge and her eldest daughter, Maria Elena, in search of a better life.
In September 1967, Jorge and Maria Teresa were able to bring their remaining 5 children to join them, in Chicago. Maria Teresa worked alongside her husband to provide for their family of six children. A trailblazer in her own right in the late 1960’s, Maria Teresa worked outside the home, yet was devoted to providing a loving and comfortable family life for all.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote, “The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.” Maria Teresa emulated St Therese of Lisieux’s words with her solid faith, a faith of words and a faith of actions; her generosity of spirit and her sparks of special wisdom that she shared with all. Maria Teresa was a woman of courage, a woman who loved an adventure, judicial with her words and actions, and someone to respect- worthy of your trust.
Maria Teresa’s abundant and overflowing love for her entire family, and all those that were fortunate enough to have known her, was evident to all who knew her. She rests in peace as she moves on to her greatest adventure of all, in Heaven.
Visitation for Maria will take place on Sunday, September 24th, 2023 from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. Norridge, Il. The Funeral will take place on Monday at 11:00 am at St. Gregory the Great Church, 5545 N Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60640. Interment will follow the Mass at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.
Maria Teresa was born in Guasuntos, Ecuador, on April 14th, 1928. She married Jorge Arellano in 1947 and had six children. Maria Teresa left Ecuador for the United States, in 1965, to join her husband Jorge and her eldest daughter, Maria Elena, in search of a better life.
In September 1967, Jorge and Maria Teresa were able to bring their remaining 5 children to join them, in Chicago. Maria Teresa worked alongside her husband to provide for their family of six children. A trailblazer in her own right in the late 1960’s, Maria Teresa worked outside the home, yet was devoted to providing a loving and comfortable family life for all.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote, “The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.” Maria Teresa emulated St Therese of Lisieux’s words with her solid faith, a faith of words and a faith of actions; her generosity of spirit and her sparks of special wisdom that she shared with all. Maria Teresa was a woman of courage, a woman who loved an adventure, judicial with her words and actions, and someone to respect- worthy of your trust.
Maria Teresa’s abundant and overflowing love for her entire family, and all those that were fortunate enough to have known her, was evident to all who knew her. She rests in peace as she moves on to her greatest adventure of all, in Heaven.
Visitation for Maria will take place on Sunday, September 24th, 2023 from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. Norridge, Il. The Funeral will take place on Monday at 11:00 am at St. Gregory the Great Church, 5545 N Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60640. Interment will follow the Mass at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.