Obituary was published and funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home and Crematory.
Carmela Delgado
(nee Padilla)
Find out what's happening in Romeovillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our dearest wife, mother, and grandmother Carmela Delgado at the age of 93. Carmela “Mela” or”Mel” was born on February 28, 1933 to the late Tomás and Arnulfa Padilla (nèe Palomares) in Chicago, Illinois. She peacefully passed into Heaven on August 4, 2026, at her home in Wentzville, Missouri, surrounded by her loving family.
Carmela attended and graduated Thomas Kelly College Preparatory High School in Chicago, Illinois. She began her career working at Alden’s, then known as the Chicago Mail Order Company, which was an industrial and retail powerhouse. Carmela worked in customer service for 10 years before finding her love, Tony, who she married in 1958.
Find out what's happening in Romeovillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Tony and Carmela spent 35 years raising their family in Burbank, Illinois. Her home on Long Avenue was a frequent gathering place for neighborhood kids, friends, and family. Carmela greeted everyone with an open door, welcoming heart, and quite often trays of sandwiches or tacos to feed a hungry crew! Her unwavering commitment to her family and faith, and compassion to others remained a constant throughout her life.
During her time in Burbank, she was an active member of St. Albert the Great Catholic Church and its Ladies Guild. She created lasting friendships with parish and school families. As her children grew, she worked as a banquet waitress for the Midland Hotel. She served and was a lead server for some of Chicago’s finest. Carmela especially loved it when the Midland Hotel hosted the Chicago Bulls and Bears, and meeting her favorite players Walter Payton, Gary Fencik, Otis Wilson, Dan Hampton, and Michael Jordan.
Carmela loved watching all types of sporting events on television, especially her beloved Chicago teams! Her love of sports began with her being a tomboy as a child, and then grew to eventually playing on The Hustlers softball team for the Burbank Park District. Carmela and Tony also loved dancing and being gracious and fun hosts to friends. In later days, you could find them in their giant backyard with friends around a fire or talking and laughing in the screened-in patio to stay safe from the weather.
Because they wanted to be closer to their grandchildren, Tony and Carmela moved to Wentzville, Missouri in 2002. She found her greatest joy in time spent with her children and grandchildren and relished gathering for big meals, holidays, birthdays, tamale day, and ordinary days. Carmela adored mornings of making breakfast for her grandchildren before getting them to school, or afternoons and evenings applauding them at numerous cross-country and track events, as well as band, dance and theatrical performances.
Carmela is survived and cherished by her adoring husband of 67 years Anthony; her children, Tony (Robin) Delgado of Sarasota, Florida, Robert Delgado of Wright City, Missouri, Melissa (Sean) Bippen of St. Peters, Missouri, and Felicia (Robert) MacFarlane of Joliet, Illinois. She will be forever in the hearts of her cherished grandchildren, Ashley Delgado, Haley (Jake Goldsborough) Delgado, Cadence Bippen, Carlin Bippen, and Sam Bippen; and her great-grandchildren Brendan and Nathan Goldsborough. Carmela is also survived by her loving sisters, Genevieve Padilla and Eloise (Peter) Santoyo; brother-in-law, Roberto Delgado; and sister-in-law, Josefina Delgado. She has countless nieces and nephews and many friends that will cherish her memory.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Tomás and Arnulfa Padilla; her in-laws, Pedro and Josefina Delgado; and dearest siblings, Carmel Padilla, Eleanor (Nicholas) Almanza, Rosa (Thomas) Villanueva, Paul Padilla, Daniel (Carmen) Padilla, Augustina (John) Rodriguez, David (Sarah) Padilla, Francisco Padilla, and Thomas Padilla. She is also preceded in death by several brothers and sisters-in-law in Mexico. We are certain she was welcomed into heaven by their loving embrace.
Carmela loved deeply and was loved completely. Her heart was our haven and her physical presence will be missed forever.
Visitation for Carmela Delgado will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Road, Joliet, IL from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Procession will follow to the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, 604 N. Raynor Avenue, Joliet, IL, where a mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11:30 a.m.
In honor of Carmela, we invite you to wear yellow to her Funeral Mass, a color that was so special to her, as we celebrate and remember her beautiful life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the SSM Health Foundation – St. Louisin honor of Carmela Delgado, in gratitude for the compassionate hospice care and wonderful support they provided to Carmela and our family.
For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave a condolence.
