Lillian L Chabes

Lillian Lorrain (Romero) Chabes, 92, went home to the Lord on the morning of December 27, 2016 in Chesterton, IN, while surrounded by her family and after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. Lillian’s pride and joy was presiding as matriarch over her large Latino family. She had 13 children, 40 grandchildren, 70 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren. Lillian enjoyed 38 years of marriage to her beloved husband Eusebio Chabes until widowed, and thereafter had a loving partnership with Francisco Rivera. A devout Catholic of unwavering faith, she was a faithful parishioner at Nativity of Our Savior and devoted her time and abilities to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Society in her later years. Lillian’s great passion in life was la familia. She instilled among her children the value of being a close-knit family that makes time for each other and takes an active interest in each other’s lives. She loved to host large family get togethers where she would prepare sumptuous feasts and enjoy the company of the family she created. Lillian was an exceptionally talented cook and succeeded in her mission of teaching all her children how to prepare the ethnic foods of their heritage. For Lillian, family was God’s greatest gift. Her children continue her legacy by getting together often and remaining very close to each other. If you know Lillian, you know that she had a love for BINGO! She had a heart of service and a giving spirit that made her a dependable friend and relative, especially when you were down on your luck and needed help. She was always faithful, supportive, forgiving, and a great helper to all. We will never forget…your smile, your warmth, your fireball personality, your hugs and long goodbyes, and how you always went out of your way to show us how much you loved and cared for us. Thank you for teaching us to love God and to treasure His greatest earthly gift: family. Lillian is preceded in death by her parents, Francisco and Donaciana Romero, her siblings Maxine Romero, Toni Watson, Carmen Gallegos, and Mary Vargas, her beloved husband Eusebio Chabes, her partner Francisco Rivera, her children, Federico Martinez, Guadalupe Chabes, Jesse Chabes, and Ida Ortiz, and her grandson, Peter “Day Day” Chabes. Lillian is survived by her children: Joseph (Carol) Chabes, Frank (Blanca Pozos) Chabes, Juanita Chabes, Rudy (Eileen) Chabes, Arthur Chabes, Lonnie (Belinda) Chabes, Adeline (Jim) Vargas, Daniel Chabes, and Carmen (Jerry) Regalado. She will be missed by her many beloved grandchildren (especially the ones she helped care for), great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Dolores Barajas and many special nieces and nephews in Colorado. Her viewing will be Thursday, December 29 at Burns Funeral Home, 701 East 7th St. Hobart from 4-8pm. Family and friends will meet again at Burns (Hobart) at 12:30pm on Friday, December 30, followed by a 2pm funeral mass at Nativity of Our Savior Catholic Church in Portage, and she will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery in Portage. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Our Lady of Guadalupe Society at Nativity church.

Lillian L Chabes

March 13, 1924 - December 27, 2016