Marijo Lopez

Marijo Lopez, age 69, was a force of nature on par with any hurricane, tornado, or tsunami you can think of. Whether it was gliding down the streets while driving loved ones to appointments or jobs, coordinating or cooking for family get-togethers, storming the sales racks of JC Penny, or standing up for her co-workers as a union steward, she always put her all into helping those she loved and cared for. She was a dynamo who would do whatever she could whenever she could. Marijo passed away on November 26th, 2024, surrounded by family who loved her just as much as she loved them and will be missed by anyone who was lucky enough to have had her in their lives.

She was born Marijo Christine Phillips on January 5th, 1955 at Loretto Hospital in Chicago, IL to Dominic and Constance Phillips. Marijo grew up in Oak Park, graduating from Oak Park-River Forest High School in 1973. In 1969, she met the love of her life Antonio Lopez. After briefly separating while he served in the United States Navy, they reconnected upon his return and stayed together for over 50 years. They married in September of 1977 and had three children: Tina Maria (born in 1978), Antonio Dominic (born in 1980), and Adam Alexander (born in 1982). She would go on to use both the first and middle names of her children in various states of annoyance all through their childhoods. Marijo returned to the workforce after her children were old enough to be in school full-time. Eventually, she retired after working at the Village of Oak Park for 20 years, making many friends (and some enemies) in the process. She was known to be a fierce defender of her fellow union members as the chief union steward and wasn’t afraid to face down those in power to fight for what she thought was right. After retirement, she spent her days doting on her grandchildren, constantly reminding her children about various appointments and family birthdays, offering plenty of babysitting and dog sitting services, and spending as much time as she could with her husband and family at their beloved vacation spot at Woodhaven Lakes.

This obituary truly cannot do Marijo’s life justice since her life cannot be boiled down to just a few paragraphs, but those of us who were there to experience her 69 years on this planet will have memories that will last the rest of our own lives.

She was preceded in death by her parents Dominic and Constance Phillips; her parents in-law Antonio and Irma Lopez; her brothers in-law Raul Lopez and Raphael Lopez; and her nephew Andrew Hagins.

Marijo is survived by her husband Antonio Lopez Jr., her daughter Tina Maria Lopez (Mark Kaminski); her sons Antonio Dominic Lopez (Kimberly Lawson) and Adam Alexander Lopez (Danielle Jonsson-Lopez); her sisters Antoinette Hagins (Michael) and Gina Phillips; her brother Dominic Phillips Jr.; her sisters in-law Irma Lopez, Clara Grala (Paul) and Illeana Herrera (Joe); her brother in-law Roberto Lopez (Martha); and her grandchildren Anthony Suero, Angelina Suero, James Suero, Isabelle Lopez, Elliot Lopez, Adrian Lopez, Nicolas Lopez, Mia Lopez, Elena Lopez, and Elias Lopez. She is also survived by many many MANY nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. So many that if I were to list them all then this obituary would need chapters but she loved each and every one of them.

Visitation for Marijo will be on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a chapel service at 7:00 PM., at Ridge Funeral Home, 6620 West Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638. For information call (773) 586-7900 or visit www.ridgefh.com.

Fond memories and expression of sympathy may be shared at www.ridgefh.com for the Lopez Family.