Rita Guajardo, (nee Martinez) age 89, died in Melrose Park on May 3. She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Cruz and Priscilla Martinez. She graduated from Mount St. Mary’s High School, in Oklahoma City. She worked for IBEW Local 1031, as a clerk at the age of 40 and finished as an Executive Manager of the Credit Union for the IBEW Local 1031. Rita retired at 75 years old. She lived with husband Raphael for two years near Military Bases and around soldiers, in Mississippi, and South Carolina. In 1946 her husband Raphael returned from Europe back to Rita and the children. The family moved from Chicago in 1976 to River Forest where she lived until 2003. She then moved to Melrose Park, Illinois. Mrs. Guajardo was an avid Chicago sports fan. She was mother of Raphael, Toni (Michael) Campbell, Irene Guajardo (John Gawne), Cruz, Michael, John, Lisa (Jason) Douglas and the late Paul Guajardo and Patricia Quane; grandmother of 17 and great-grandmother of nine. She was sister of Vincent (Paula and the late Carmen) Martinez, John (Danna) Martinez, Monica Sandoval and the late Maria (the late Gerald) Pryor and Cruz Martinez. She was sister-in-law of Irene Barba. She was fond aunt and great-aunt of many. A visitation will be held Friday, May 9 from 3 – 9 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home. On Saturday, May 10, family and friends will meet at Ascension Church, 808 S. East Ave., Oak Park, for mass at 10 a.m. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to St. Angela School, 1332 N. Massasoit Ave., Chicago, IL 60651.
