San Juanita (Zarate) Palomares

San Juanita Palomares, 53, of Rantoul, passed away at 2:06 p.m. Thursday, February 14, 2019, at Carle Foundation Hospital, in Urbana.

Juanita was born on August 11, 1965, in Hoopeston, Illinois, the daughter of Baltazar and Angela (Mendoza) Zarate.  She married Jesus “Jesse” Palomares on June 13, 1987, in Ruskin, Florida.  He preceded her in death on August 21, 2017.

She is survived by three daughters- Janette (Adrian) Menchaca, Jasmine Palomares and Rebecca Clerget all of Rantoul; three sons- Jesus (Jamie) Palomares, Juan Palomares and Joseph (Elizabeth) Palomares all of Rantoul; ten grandchildren- Janeiza Menchaca, Adilany Palomares, Erin Menchaca, Javian Jesus Palomares, Jaylianna Juanita Palomares, Andrea, Perla, Lizeth, Yohanny and Danny Morlaes; three brothers- Baltazar Zarate Jr. of Pharr, Texas, Raul (Valerie) Zarate of Pharr, Texas and Matias Zarate of Rantoul; three sisters- Saturnina (Santiago Sanchez) Zarate of Donna, Texas, Martina (Hilario) Palomares of Ruskin, Florida and Lucinda (Valentin) Cabral of Ruskin, Florida; uncles- Pedro (Melida) Zarate of Hoopeston and Luis (Martha) Mendoza of Pharr, Texas and Nabor Villarreal of Rio Grande City, Texas; aunts- Guadalupe (Robert) Kirkhart of Danville, San Juana (Dupertino) Lopez of La Grulla, Texas, Espernaza Zarate of Sullivan City, Texas, Eva Mendoza of San Antonio, Texas; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and her special Chihuahua baby Jack Olaf Palomares.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Juanita was a member of St. Malachy’s Catholic Church, in Rantoul.  She enjoyed cooking, babysitting, shopping, traveling, dancing and taking care of her family.  Juanita loved having parties, family gatherings and playing loteria. 

A Celebration of San Juanita Palomares Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 23, 2019, at Blurton Funeral Home, in Potomac, with Father Joel Phelps officiating.  Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to the family.  The family has entrusted the Blurton Funeral Home to assist them in honoring Juanita’s life.  Memories or photos may be shared with the family on her everlasting memorial page at:  www.BlurtonFuneralHomes.com.

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