Arturo Cortinas

Arturo “Chuga” Cortinas Sr. passed away on March 15, 2022 at the age of 74, at his home, after battling cancer showing his courage with his head high, surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

He showed us that we should never give up and to fight until the very end.

Arturo was born in Mission, Texas on July 4, 1948 to Andres and Ofilia F. Cortinas. Married his beautiful wife, Amada Cortinas (nee Barrera), on April 23, 1968. He is survived by his children: Arturo (Elena) Cortinas Jr., Adrian (Sonya) Cortinas, Erica Cortinas, and Maria (Ramiro) Guadarrama. 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren with one more on the way, and one great-great grandchild on the way. Predeceased by his parents, sisters Juanita Phillips, Maria de Jesus Cortinas, Maria Elena Acevedo and Ofilia Wright.

He became a permanent resident of the Greater Rockford Area while working for the Gensler Family farms as a migrant worker. Later joining Surface Maintenance Services, working alongside his longtime friend Charles Dunbar and retiring after thirty plus years.

Anyone who knew him, knew that he loved to be outdoors (gardening every year), doing puzzles with his wife, watching wrestling, and being surrounded by his family. He loved to share family stories and hang out his favorite canine, Milo.

Arturo will be desperately missed. Our hearts are so broken by this unexpected loss. He was one of a kind and to be loved by him was to be truly blessed.

A funeral service will be on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 11:00 am, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois 61108. A visitation will take place starting at 10:00 am, up until service time.
A public visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, with a 6:45 pm rosary, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel. Burial will be in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Winnebago, Illinois. There will be a luncheon to follow the burial at St. Patrick's Catholic Church at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. Please share condolences and memories online at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.