Marybeth Jimenez Santos

Marybeth Jimenez Santos, often heard before she was seen, was best known for her steadfast piety and devotion to God, unconditional love for her family and togetherness, her bright smile, incredible sense of humor, ability to memorize everyone’s birthday and forge a friendship with all she crossed paths with, her kind ear and shoulder to cry on, impeccable green thumb, talent at scouring and securing the best deals, wearing matching scrubs, headband, watchband, and socks, speed, tenacity, and efficiency in all that she did, spoiling her grandchildren with hugs, kisses, her famous Lola’s Soup, gummy bears, and Nutella, ensuring her three children drank a tall glass of milk every night before bed (up until they all graduated from high school), gained her wings and entered eternal life on December 29th, 2022 in her home surrounded by her loving family in Wheeling, IL after a short, but mighty and relentless, battle against Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer.

She was born on August 30th, 1957 in Parañaque City in the Philippines to Elizabeth Frijas Jimenez and the late Conrado Cariño Jimenez and was the eldest of her siblings. Through her sister, she met her best friend and love of her life, Joseph Santos, and they were married on June 15, 1981 at Mary Help of Christians in Parañaque City. They immigrated to the United States in 1983 and raised their family with humble beginnings in the house they built with love, care, and prayer together. She established her nursing career in various prestigious institutions: Glen Oaks, Convent of the Holy Spirit, Techny Divine Word Residence, and NW Suburban Surgical Specialists. While she excelled and provided exceptional care in all of her roles, her heart was happiest serving children and families in her final role at North Arlington Pediatrics because she loved children and she loved the joy it brought her to work alongside her NAP family. Marybeth was both an amazing, protective, involved mother and an incredible, doting, active, and exceptional Lola. Her love for her family is unmatched.

Her brave, tough spirit is carried on by her husband and forever dance partner, Joe, her children, Pete, her favorite, and her daughters who are more like her than they are not, Michelle (husband, Kunal, and daughter, Camille) Ganti, and Mary (husband, David and children, Teddy, Benji, and Whitney aka “Whi Whi”) Padilla; her regal mother, Elizabeth; her big-hearted siblings, Jocelyn Jimenez and Howard (Lee) Jimenez; her loyal pups, Aiko and Ninja; a handful of cousins and great aunts; and a circle of friends that could fill a church like Christmas morning mass.

A visitation will take place on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023 from 1:30pm to 7:30pm at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004 with a prayer service to take place at 6:00pm. A funeral mass will take place on Wednesday, January 4th, 2023 at 10:00am at St. Mary Parish, 10 N. Buffalo Grove Rd. Buffalo Grove, IL 60089.

The visitation on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 will be streamed via Zoom from 1:30pm-7:30pm CST (see Events section below for link)

The funeral mass on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 will be streamed via Zoom from 10:00am-11:00am (see Events section below for link)

In lieu of flowers, memorials and donations would be appreciated for Pancreatic Action Network or Versiti Blood Research or the family requests blood donations to your nearest blood bank to help save a life!

Funeral Information and condolences can be given at www.GlueckertFH.com or (847) 253-0168.