Obituary for Concepcion Ortiz
Concepcion “Chon” Ortiz, 93, of Peoria, IL passed away at 11:20 pm on Monday, July 21, 2014, at his residence in Peoria under hospice care and with his family by his side. He was born January 22, 1921 in San Andres, Mexico to Maria De Jesus Ortiz. He married Celia Maria Ortiz in 1945 in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico. Celia preceded him in death by 20 years. One child preceded him in death departing as an infant and 2 brothers and 2 sisters also preceded him in death. Surviving are: 8 of his children, ( Maria Soccoro (Ruben) Rodriguez, Arturo (Chela) Ortiz, Jesus Armando (Betty) Ortiz, Jose (Rosa) Ortiz, Maria Lourdes Ortiz, Francisco Jose Ortiz, Jesus Ortiz, and Dolores M (Michael Odell) Ortiz) ; 17 grandchildren: (Arturo “Turi” Ortiz, Celia (Freddy) Ortiz Montañez, Ruben Rodriguez, Patricia (Mark) Magallanes, Adrian (Nicole) Aguilar, Thomas Daniel (Melissa) Aguilar, Antonio (Sandra) Ortiz, Alejandro Aguilar, Maria Elena (Brendan) Gould, Guadalupe “Lupita” (Edgar) Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Claudia (Roberto) Sandoval Ortiz, Pablo (Elisha) Ortiz, Ericka Ortiz, Rudy Ortiz, Armando “Armandito” Ortiz, Julian Ortiz); and 23 great-grandchildren. Above all, Concepcion was a very simple, humble, and loving family man. His lot in life was to be born to stricken poverty in Mexico. He was taken to El Paso, TX to be raised by his mother only. As a child he slept on the floor of a small adobe shack with his four siblings. He would later in life recant in detail waking up terrified as a child to experience rats and varmint around him as he slept. But Concepcion had a strong resolve to live a life of hard work so as to one day give his children, and subsequently grand-children, the passage to a better life--and that he did. Concepcion worked as a seasonal migrant worker in the United States working in intensive laborious environments from mining and construction to agriculture and everywhere in between. Despite minimal education, Concepcion used his savings from his migrant work to build with his own hands multiple homes in Mexico that served as rental property investments including the home he raised his family in. Though his family was a struggling working class family with eight children living in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, Concepcion and his wife Celia constantly opened their doors to serve the disadvantaged, homeless, and hungry in their neighborhood and shared their minimal food and belongings. They raised their children to naturally live in such a way. Concepcion was a naturally unassuming person who cared minimally for any material possessions beyond what was needed to practically provide for his family. While living in Peoria, IL the last 20 years of his life, he made family amongst very close friends that looked out for him alongside his family such as Cecilia and Maria Garcia and their perspective husbands and husband’s families (Ted and Sharon Mathews). He found a deep tranquility and happiness from simplicity—he had a deep appreciation of animals and nature spending much of his later years gardening and enjoying the company of his multiple pets and observing the family he set in motion continue on to the better lives he set out to give them. Cremation has been accorded and a private family service will be held. Memorials may be made to the Peoria Family House in his name.
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