Juan Jose Gomez Rodela

Juan G. Rodela, 89, from Bolingbrook, IL, passed away peacefully on the evening of Sunday, January 29, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Juan is survived by his wife, Adriana, and their three children, Michelle, Claudia, and Manuella, as well as nine other children: Anamaria (Paul) Dorado, Beatriz (Raymond) Hardy, Patricia Rodela (Bart Van Droogenbroeck), Juan (Maribeth), Teresa (John) Ziolkowski, Monica (Ron Lozenski), Angelica, Raquel (Craig) Pacha, and Irma (Richard Krocker), nineteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren from his first wife, Esperanza; and his sister, Anita. Juan was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 45 years, Esperanza, his parents, Jose and Maria Nicanora, and his brother, Ramon. Juan was born in Torreón, Mexico, on February 20, 1933, to Jose and Maria Nicanora. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico, and in 1956, he joined the Army Corps of Engineers in the United States Army. After being honorably discharged two years later, Juan began his professional career at Westinghouse in Chicago, IL, before eventually becoming the General Manager of Quality Control, building diesel trains for the Electro-Motive Division in La Grange, IL. His family will remember Juan as a man full of curiosity and who loved to ask questions about history, music, movies, and science. He enjoyed challenging his family to solve riddles and puzzles in hopes of sparking a lively discussion. Juan was also an accomplished storyteller, known for his flair for the dramatic, which often resulted in wild tales or comedy skits that required his children's participation to continue the madness. Armed with his trusty level, you could find him building bookshelves, installing a tile floor, or refinishing a basement. His affinity for fixing broken electronics often led to extra parts and insisting the original design was flawed. In his later years, Juan discovered a love for cooking and experimented with different flavors and styles of Mexican cuisine. Preparing a multi-course meal for his family brought him great joy. A visitation in Juan's honor will be held on Friday, February 3, 2023, at 1:00 PM at McCauley- Sullivan Funeral Home in Bolingbrook, IL. All are welcome to attend and celebrate his life. Funeral arrangements entrusted to McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home and Crematorium.

Juan Jose Gomez Rodela

February 20, 1933 - January 29, 2023