Community Mourns 'The Taco Lady': Wife, Mom, Business Owner Dies After Illness

MANHATTAN, IL — The Manhattan community is grieving one of its own, a beloved woman affectionately known as "The Taco Lady."

Angela "Angie" Pantoja, 42, died Friday after a months-long battle with a rare illness. Pantoja and her husband Dap (David) are the minds behind "The Taco Man," a taco stand and catering business that's won them business and hearts in the community.

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Angie Pantoja first fell ill in February, sidelined by an infection stemming from a problematic wisdom tooth. The community rallied around the couple and family that had captured hearts, raising $31,000 to support them as Dap paused his business to be with Angie. The crisis brought the tight-knit family of four—Angie, Dap, son David II and daughter Aaliyah—even closer as they rallied around Angie.

In April, after nearly 90 days of undergoing care at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Angie returned home. In mid-May, she was hospitalized in intensive care for respiratory complications, Dap updated supporters.

Their decades-long love story—they met at just 12 years old—inspired longtime friends and captivated those who'd come to know them through their taco pop-ups. On Friday, Dap shared news of her death.

"This isn’t goodbye but a see you later," he wrote. "You’ll be missed and spoken about LOUDLY. We love you forever & always, sunshine."

Family friend Monique Proper wrote of Angie's death on the GoFundMe started for the family.

"With heavy hearts, we share that Angie gained her angel wings early this morning after courageously battling for many months," Proper wrote.

"There truly are no words to express the pain and heartbreak her family, friends, and loved ones are feeling during this unimaginable time. Angie was deeply loved by so many, and her strength, love, and beautiful spirit touched countless lives."

The fundraiser remains active as the family prepares for funeral services. A meal train for the family has also been started.

"This meal train was created to help support Dap and the kids during this incredibly difficult time following the loss of Angie," the organizers wrote. "As they navigate the days and weeks ahead, we hope to lighten even a small part of the burden by surrounding them with love, comfort, and support through meals, gift cards, and acts of kindness. Thank you for helping remind them they are not alone."

Proper previously told Patch of the shared passion Dap and Angie had shown in their taco business endeavor, grown from a taco stand with just a Blackstone grill and an occasional gig to an in-demand catering business that serves business lunches, parties, and community gatherings.

"Angie now calls herself 'The Taco Lady,'" she told Patch, laughing at the time.

The two were often seen working in tandem, with Angie "right there with him, slinging tacos, entertaining people. Their characters draw people to them—they’re a dynamic duo. It’s profound what they’ve already built upon in the last couple of years, for people to gravitate toward them."

The community's affection for them is clear, as condolences pour in on social media.

"Thoughts and prayers are with your family," one supporter wrote. "She is in God's hands now and will be with you always."

"... sorry doesn’t even scratch the surface," wrote another. "She was a beautiful person inside and out. Her legacy will carry on and she will be deeply missed."

"This is the most heartbreaking news," another said. "Angie has always been a ray of sunshine. Rest easy, my old friend."

"She was so kind," wrote another. "I remember pulling up last year as you were packing things up and you both insisted on pulling everything back out just for me to get a few tacos. I felt so bad about it, but she was so kind and reassured me it was ok. I am so sorry for your loss."

Her obituary describes how Angie's world "revolved around love and joy sourced from family and friends.

"Devoted to the role, she provided herself as the pillar of strength and comfort to her home. Angela took great pride in loving her two kids and husband, teaching them morals based on love, strength, community, and security."

Known for her "tight hugs and contagious laugh, her vibrant energy was felt from family, friends, and even throughout the community," family wrote.

"Her home had open doors, often mothering others and providing her roof to them with open arms."

Angie was a current Joliet resident who grew up in Manhattan. She and Dap recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. They took great pride in building their business together and also in seeing their family thrive.

"Although her children were her world, when she wasn’t tending to her children, you could often find her listening to music—embracing each note," her obituary reads. "She handled the daily operations of a capricious home with the utmost grace, patience, amiability, and love one could possibly have."

Angie is survived by Dap and their children, as well as parents Steve and Karen (nee Fitzgerald) Chellios, siblings Christa (Sam) Blatt and Nicholas (Charleigh) Chellios, brothers-in-law Michael Pantoja and Daniel (Rosanna) Pantoja, nieces and nephews Yasmin (Zach) Pantoja, Celeste Pantoja, Danyelle Pantoja, Yanelle Saldana, Mariah Pantoja, Sabrina Pantoja, Lydia Pantoja, Louis Blatt, Brielle Blatt, Euthemios Chellios and Casper Chellios, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, and her beloved dog, Oso Blanco.

Visitation is set for Thursday, May 28, at Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, 507 S. State St., Manhattan, from 3 p.m. until time of service at 7 p.m

Per her wishes, cremation will take place following services.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Angie’s name to the Fields for Hope Foundation, serving families in the Lincoln Way Community High School District area. Donations accepted online or by checks payable to Fields For Hope Foundation c/o Brian Kestel, 14850 W Delaney Road, Manhattan.

View the full obituary online.