Rogelio Duarte Espinoza

Rogelio Duarte Espinoza, 84, of Poplar Grove, IL died at 9:00am, July 20, 2022, in Geisinger Hospital, Danville Pennsylvania, after a sudden illness. He was surrounded by his family who loved him very much and who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest. He was born on March 4, 1938, in Rancho de las Pilas Huejuquilla, Jalisco, Mexico and married Otilia Fernandez Yanez.
He immigrated to the United States in the 1970’s. He worked many jobs throughout the fields of Arizona, Oregon, and New Mexico to support his family in Mexico. Then in the late 1980’s, he and Otilia made the decision to move to the United States in search of a better life for their family and made Rockford, Illinois their home. He was employed in manufacturing at Cellusuede Products, and Camcar Textron. He later retired from Camcar Textron, but his exemplary drive and dedication to continue to work allowed him to be employed at Hanson Pressure Pipe Group, for a couple years. He realized his time would be best spent with his wife, children, and grandchildren, visiting them in Illinois, North Carolina and Pennsylvania or going to Mexico, for the seasonal fruit named “Pitaya” that his beloved Otilia enjoyed having during the mid-summer months. However due to the pandemic, their annual trip to Mexico did not take place the last few years.
He was a faithful member of St. Edwards Catholic church where he and Otilia were Eucharistic Ministers. He loved and was energized being outdoors, going for walks with Otilia on the early mornings or evenings. You would also find him trying to trim a tree, weed a garden, mow their children’s lawn or sitting outdoors while working on his word search puzzles in English and Spanish. He became quite skilled and would spend hours working on them, that he would need to be reminded it was time to eat. He truly enjoyed staying busy and active. He also had a passion for horses and bull riding, it reminded him of his youthful time in Mexico.
The longer you knew him, the more you realized how remarkable of a man he was, how devoted he was to his family, how loyal he was to his friends, his unwavering faith in God, and how available he was to literally anyone who needed help. He was a loving husband, father, and took great pride in his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 44yrs, Otilia; his children Rogelio (Rosa) Duarte Jr., Roscoe IL, Maria (Gary) Gill, Poplar Grove IL, Oscar (Cassandra) Duarte, Raleigh North Carolina, Anabel (DJ) Menifee, Winfield Pennsylvania; his grandchildren, Issac, Noelani, Jonathan, Isabella, Noah, Noella, Joshua, Kyrie, Jacob, Kelby, Kelani. Brothers; Eberardo Duarte, Abel Duarte, Sisters; Venicia Miranda, Consuelo Duarte, Olivia Duarte, Antonia Sandoval, Leonor Duarte, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandson Rhylen Duarte- Pincham, his brothers and sisters, Jesus Duarte, Engelberto Duarte, Teodora Escobedo, Imelda Martinez.
A public visitation will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois 61108. A Catholic funeral mass will follow the next day, Friday, July 29, 2022 at 11:00am, with visitation from 10 am until time of Mass at St Edwards Catholic Church 3004 11th St Rockford, IL 61109. Final resting place will be in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Winnebago, IL


Rogelio Duarte Espinoza, de 84 años, de Poplar Grove, IL, falleció a las 9:00 a. m. del 20 de julio de 2022 en el Geisinger Hospital de Danville Pennsylvania, de una enfermedad repentina. Estaba rodeado de su familia que lo querían mucho y que seguirán honrando su legado viviendo sus vidas al máximo. Nació el 4 de Marzo del 1938 en el Rancho de las Pilas Huejuquilla, Jalisco, México. Se casó con Otilia Fernández Yáñez.
Emigró a los Estados Unidos en la década de los 1970. Trabajó como bracero en los campos de Arizona, Oregón y Nuevo México para mantener a su familia en México. Luego, a fines de la década de los 1980, él y Otilia tomaron la decisión de mudarse a los Estados Unidos en busca de una vida mejor para su familia e hicieron Rockford, Illinois, su hogar. Trabajó en la fabricación en Cellusuede Products y Camcar Textron. Más tarde se retiró de Camcar Textron, pero su impulso y dedicación ejemplar para continuar trabajando, le permitió trabajar en Hanson Pressure Pipe Group durante un par de años. Después se dio cuenta que sería mejor pasar su tiempo con su esposa, hijos y nietos, visitándolos en Illinois, Carolina del Norte y Pensilvania o yendo a México, por la temporada de fruta de las "Pitaya" que su amada Otilia disfrutaba tener a mediados del verano. Sin embargo, debido a la pandemia, su viaje anual a México no se realizó en los últimos años.

Era un miembro fiel de la iglesia católica de St. Edwards, donde él y Otilia eran ministros eucarísticos. Le encantaba y le llenaba de energía estar al aire libre, salir a caminar con Otilia temprano en la mañana y en la noche. También lo pudieran encontrar tratando de podar un árbol, desmalezar un jardín, cortar el césped de sus hijos o sentarse al aire libre mientras trabajaba en sus búsquedas de letras en inglés y español. Se volvió bastante hábil y pasaba horas trabajando en ellos, que necesitaba que le recordaran que era hora de comer. Realmente disfrutó mantenerse ocupado y activo. También tenía pasión por los caballos y la monta de toros, le recordaba de su juventud en México.
Cuanto más lo conocías, más te dabas cuenta de lo extraordinario que era como hombre, lo dedicado que era a su familia, lo leal que era a sus amigos, su fe inquebrantable en Dios y lo disponible que estaba literalmente para cualquiera que necesitara ayuda. Era un amoroso esposo, padre y se enorgullecía mucho de sus nietos. Le sobreviven su esposa de 44 años de matrimonio, Otilia; sus hijos Rogelio (Rosa) Duarte Jr., Roscoe IL, Maria (Gary) Gill, Poplar Grove IL, Oscar (Cassandra) Duarte, Raleigh, North Carolina, Anabel (DJ) Menifee, Winfield Pennsylvania; sus nietos,
Issac, Noelani, Jonathan, Isabella, Noah, Noella, Joshua, Kyrie, Jacob, Kelby, Kelani. Hermanos; Eberardo Duarte, Abel Duarte, Hermanas; Venicia Miranda, Consuelo Duarte, Olivia Duarte, Antonia Sandoval, Leonor Duarte, muchas sobrinas, sobrinos, primos y amigos. Le precedieron en la muerte su nieto Rhylen Duarte-Pincham, sus hermanos y hermanas, Jesus Duarte, Engelberto Duarte, Teodora Escobedo, Imelda Martinez.

Se llevará a cabo un velorio el jueves 28 de julio del 2022 de las 5:00 p. m. a 8:00 p. m., en Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois 61108. Al día siguiente se realizará una misa fúneraria católica el viernes, 29 de julio del 2022 a las 11:00 a. m., con una visitación de las 10 a.m. hasta el comienzo de la Santa misa en St Edwards Catholic Church 3004 11th St Rockford, IL 61109. El lugar de descanso final será en el Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Winnebago, IL.