John Armendariz, 88, passed away in Kyle, Texas on May 13, 2024. Born in Chicago to Maria Teresa Zelaya Armendariz and Alfonso Armendariz on May 5, 1936, John is survived by Estela, his wife of 40 years; his seven children, Mark, Cynthia, Shawn, Raul, Andre, Robert, Sergio; and his nine grandchildren. John is predeceased by his sister Diane and his brother Michael. John is survived by his sisters Kim and Bonnie.
A native Chicagoan, John and his four siblings lived at the Angel Guardian Orphanage (AGO) for approximately 10 years. He spoke fondly of his overall experience at AGO and credited the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ for providing him with a strong foundation and upbringing.
Beginning in the 1960s, John was an ardent civil rights activist with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. John organized many rallies, speeches, and strike lines throughout the Midwest to protest the unfair treatment of farmworkers and to bring awareness to the public of the farmworkers’ exploitation by agricultural companies.
John continued to advocate for justice. He was a labor union organizer throughout Chicago and was very vocal in the unionization of the United States Postal Service (USPS). John retired from the USPS after 31 years and was proud to witness the founding of the American Postal Workers Union in 1971.
John was committed to the promotion and advocacy of justice and education. He continued to be involved in the Chicano movement and was a founding member of the Mexican American Council on Education in Chicago. Additionally, he founded the Chicano Library which was supported, in part, by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
John was a proud and active member of St. Margaret Mary parish for 37 years. And one cannot forget his loyalty and love for the Chicago Bears and Chicago Bulls!
May John rest in eternal peace.
A visitation will take place at the Drake & Son Funeral Home on Friday, May 24, 2024 from 9:00am until 11:00am. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow the visitation at 11:30am at Blessed Aloysius Stepinac Croatian Catholic Mission (6346 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660). Burial will follow the Mass at St. Henry Cemetery.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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