Obituary of Luis C. Castillo
Luis Carlos Castillo
Age 62, passed away Monday, July 30, 2018, at home, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was born in Villavicencio, Colombia, to Mercedes Varela and Carlos Julio Castillo on May 13, 1956. Luis married Gilma Perez on December 8, 1983, in Bogotá, Colombia. His young family and mother immigrated to the United States in 1988. Luis worked in landscaping and maintenance at Oakbrook Center for 27 years. He was a proud member of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local #1 and a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. Raymond for nearly 30 years.
Luis’ positive attitude while facing his illness remains exemplary. He was a family man who achieved the American dream. Luis had an innate ability to be self-taught to operate and repair machinery, which lead to his leadership role. His kindness, humility and humor made him a wonderful employee, boss and friend. He loved nature and flowers, in particular tulips, which became his memorable trademark.
Luis is survived by his dedicated and loving wife of 34 years, Gilma (nee Perez) Castillo; his daughters, Maria Catalina (Trevor) Merrick and Liza Tatiana Castillo; his granddaughter, Charlotte Olivia Merrick; his sister, Martha (nee Castillo) Bates; and his niece, Cathleen (Todd) Wheeler.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Mercedes Varela and his father, Carlos Julio Castillo.
Luis Carlos’ family wishes to extend a sincere thank you to the Edward Cancer Center, SEIU Local #1, Joliet Area Community Hospice, the Cathedral of St. Raymond Church and friends of the family.
A Memorial Gathering for Luis Carlos Castillo will be held on Friday, August 17, 2018, from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Road at Essington Rds., Joliet. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, August 18, 2018, at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home chapel to the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, 604 N. Raynor Ave., Joliet, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Inurnment will follow at St. Mary Nativity Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the Castillo family accepts donations which will be divided between the cost of funeral services and a donation to Joliet Area Community Hospice. For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
