Maria Garduño

Maria Garduño, 62, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away on March 22, 2026. Born on November 25, 1963, and raised in Chicago by her late parents Felipe and Guadalupe, Maria remained a lifelong resident of the Humboldt Park neighborhood, a community she loved deeply and called home throughout her life.

Maria devoted 40 years of service to the Chicago Park District, where she spent the last 15 years as a supervisor. Her dedication, leadership, and strong work ethic left a lasting impact on her colleagues and the many people she served over the decades.

Above all, Maria’s greatest pride was her family. She is survived by her children Isabella, Joshua, and Lourdes, who were the center of her world. She is also survived by her siblings Antonio Garduño, Roy Garduño, Benny Garduño, Rosa Garduño, Esther Garduño, Samuel Garduño, and Peter Garduño. She was preceded in death by her brother Manuel Garduño.

She was a beloved aunt and held a special bond with her nieces and nephews Jennifer Rodriguez, Javier Quiñones, Vanessa Quiñones, Kristina Picasso, Brandon Garduño, Natasha Garduño, Benny Garduño, Jr., and the late Jose Luis Quiñones, Jr., who was also her Godson and held a very close and cherished place in her heart.

Maria’s life was also made richer by the close friends who became like family to her, Marilyn Morales, Vanessa Tabor, Lourdes Ubides and the late Maria Delgado.

Maria was known for her creativity and craftiness, always working on something artistic. She loved music and proudly considered herself a DJ at heart, with Tina Turner among her favorites. She was a passionate fan of WWE, SmackDown, and Raw, and never missed a chance to cheer on her Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox.

At home, Maria’s love extended to her “babies”—Tigger and Oreo the cats who brought her constant companionship and joy. She also had a special love for Ace the dog and Simba the bearded dragon, who were cherished parts of her life and family. She had a playful spirit and a sense of humor that those closest to her will always remember. She especially loved Christmas and kept her decorations up year-round. She also made it very clear that flowers were not her preference—she would much rather have a Pepsi, which she truly loved and enjoyed often.

Maria will be remembered for her strength, her loyalty, her humor, and the love she shared so freely with her family and friends. Her presence will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.

Visitation for Maria will be held on Friday, March 27th from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Nelson Funeral Home, located at 820 W Talcott Rd, Park Ridge, Illinois 60068.

Her family kindly asks that all who attend come as who they are—dress comfortably and as themselves. If you wish to honor Maria’s vibrant spirit, you are also welcome to wear attire that reflects the things she loved most: Chicago Bears, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, wrestling-themed shirts/gear or anything Chicago Park District related.

As her daughter Isabella shared, “We are mourning but we are also celebrating her and the life she lived.”

Aftercare entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park, IL