Visitation Information

Maria R. Torres, "Chayo"

Passed away on December 20, 2025

Maria “Chayo” Torres, age 80, late of Chicago, Illinois, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2025, after a long and courageous journey with dementia.

Chayo was born in Momax, Zacatecas, Mexico, to Andrés Mota and Herminia Álvarez. In the late 1980s, she and her husband Lorenzo moved to Odessa, Texas, where they built a life grounded in hard work, faith, and service to others. She carried her roots with pride and the values instilled in her by her parents, including hard work, compassion, humility, and faith, and she brought the generosity and warmth of her hometown with her wherever life took her.

A true businesswoman, Chayo and her husband owned and operated a local restaurant that became much more than a place of work; it was a place of compassion. Located near a school, Chayo was known for never turning anyone away, happily serving students whether or not they had money. Her generosity was instinctive, and she would literally give the shirt off her back to anyone in need.

The greatest joy of Chayo’s life was her son, Mario, whom she loved deeply and wholeheartedly. His passing, along with the loss of her husband and her other children, marked profound chapters of grief in her life. Yet through every heartbreak, Chayo remained resilient, her strong faith in God and her church sustaining her and giving her strength. She was a devoted and loving daughter who cared for her parents with deep love and selflessness throughout their lives, and even across distance, she remained present, attentive, and devoted.

Chayo was funny, charismatic, generous, and full of life. She was also very fashionable and loved putting together outfits, always matching her shoes to her purse. She was a great cook and loved feeding everyone who came to her home. Family was everything to her, and she shared an unbreakable bond with her brothers and sisters. To her sisters, Chayo was more than a sibling; she was a second mother, a good friend, and reliable, offering protection and unconditional love. She cared for her nieces and nephews as if they were her own, providing love, support, and encouragement without hesitation.

An independent woman and tireless worker, Chayo is remembered as a role model to everyone, an example of strength, perseverance, compassion, and grace. Her life was a testament to love in action.

Chayo is survived by her siblings: Arturo (Angelica) Mota, Elvira Maida (late Joe), Alicia (Arturo) Huizar, and Silvia (Gustavo) Muñoz, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews who will forever cherish her memory.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lorenzo Torres; her children, Baby Mario, Vanessita, and Mario Torres; her parents, Andrés and Herminia Mota; and her siblings, Benjamin Mota (Martha), Rosa Alvarez (late Juan), and Herminia Cornejo.

Chayo’s legacy lives on in the love she gave, the faith she carried, and the countless lives she touched. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always.

Visitation Friday, December 26, 2025 from 3:00 – 7:00 pm.  Funeral Services Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 10:15 am from the Elmwood Chapel 11200 S. Ewing Ave. Chicago to Jesus, Shepherd of Souls Church – St. Andrew Worship Site.  Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 am.  Interment St. Mary Cemetery, Evergreen Park, IL.  For more information 773-731-2749.