Maria del Carmen Morales

Maria del Carmen Morales, 81, of Montgomery, IL succumbed to the effects of dementia after suffering from the disease for many years on May 2, 2022. She was born in CD Juarez Mexico on April 1, 1941. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Jose Morales, her daughters, Raquel Morales and Ann (Kevin) Simmons; her brothers, Pedro Sanchez Duarte, Mario Javier Sanchez Duarte, and Jesus Sanchez Duarte; her sister, Virginia Ivonne Sanchez Duarte; along with many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Pedro Sanchez Dominguez and Ofelia Duarte Marquez; and her brother, Manuel Sanchez. 

Maria studied nursing in Mexico where she earned the equivalent of a bachelor’s in nursing in 1964. She, along with several of her fellow graduates, came to Illinois to work as nurses at St. Charles Hospital in the summer of 1967. Once here, along with her fellow graduates, she was taught English by the nuns they worked with and learned the customs of their new home. She later worked at Copley Medical Center and Dreyer Medical Center before retiring in 2012.

Carmen and her husband loved to travel. They went on several cruises to the Mexican Riviera, where they made many friends. They also loved going to Las Vegas, where Carmen would indulge in her love of dance. Maria would be on the dance floor from the moment the music started till the last note was played. Many a night she would return home exhausted and as she got older, in need of a few aspirin, but always happy because of all the dancing she had done.

Along with traveling and dancing Carmen also enjoyed gardening. She could coax anything to grow. She enjoyed getting together with her friends in the neighborhood to canoe (despite not being able to swim), play cards or just sit and enjoy their company.

Carmen received her US citizenship on December 21st, 1995. She was very proud of this accomplishment and loved reminding her husband how she was a citizen of the US as he was not (yet). 

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that those who would wish to donate under Carmen’s name donate to the Oswego Senior Center, where Carmen perfected her computer skills, or to Planned Parenthood as Carmen was a strong believer in woman’s rights and their ability to make their own decisions regarding their bodies including their reproductive rights. Women’s rights are human rights.

Family will be receiving guests on Saturday, May 14, 2022 from 9:00AM until 11:00AM at Dieterle Memorial Home, 1120 S Broadway Ave, Montgomery, IL 60538. A funeral service will take place on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 11:00AM also at Dieterle Memorial Home. Interment at Lincoln Memorial Park.

To watch a recording of Maria Carmen's service, please click the following link: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1652568348184132