Amalia "Molly" Gutierrez

Amalia (Molly) Gutierrez of Arlington Heights, Illinois, formerly of Edinburg, Texas. Molly was born August 12, 1940 to Adan and Adela (nee Perez) Gutierrez in Goliad, Texas and she died peacefully at home in Arlington Heights on June 21, 2023 after a tough battle with Alzheimer’s.

Molly was raised in Edinburg, Texas. She started working as a young child picking cotton in the fields. She always had a very strong work ethic, sometimes holding down three jobs to support her family.  Molly moved to Des Plaines, Illinois at the age of 27 where she was blessed with three children and six grandchildren. Throughout the 55 years that Molly lived in Illinois, she longed to return to her home - Texas. She reminisced about Texas almost everyday. She did not like the cold winters in Illinois with temperatures often plunging below zero. She preferred the hot blazing sun; the hotter the better.  

In Illinois, Molly worked for Great Lakes Finer Foods, Acco International, Montgomery Wards, and Sears before retiring in 2008.  Her favorite job was working at the jewelry counter for Montgomery Wards at Randhurst.

Molly always loved getting dressed up to go out for any occasion. She loved shopping with friends. She enjoyed dancing and Mariachi music.  Molly was crafty; always making the prettiest bows on wrapped packages. She was friendly, patient, and kind to everyone she met. She adored her children, grandchildren, and dog Tiaga. She also loved her friends immensely and with her whole heart.

Molly is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Judy Lynn (nee Parras) and Patrick Devereaux; her sons Ricardo Olivo, and Peter Olivo; grandchildren Derek Devereaux, Vanessa Devereaux, Jasmine Olivo, Xavier Ortiz, Vince (Yasmine) Olivo, and Desiree Sanchez; great grandson Julian Flores; brother Israel (Rosie) Gutierrez, sister Alma Diana Nolan, brother-in-law Barry Nolan, nephew Justin Nolan, niece Dana Nolan, Tia Tola Rodriquez; cousins Otilia (Ruben) Navarrette, Dora Weins; best friends Olga Ibarra, Elva Salmon, Gloria Reyes, Adelmira Zapata Salinas, Berta Portales, Rosalinda Strohmeyer, Irma Pacheco, Lupita Adame, Rosa Villarreal, Ceci Diaz, Anita Chavez and Maria Grace Yeksigian; the Gutierrez and Parras family; goddaughters Cindy Pulido and Patty Alvarez; many more dear family members and friends. 

Molly is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Carolina G. Cavazos, her uncle Ismael Gutierrez(Delia), her best friends Nora Luna, Yolanda Benavides, her madrina San Juanita Gonzalez and her beloved dog Tiaga. 

A beautiful visitation was held at Friedrichs Funeral Home in Mount Prospect, Illinois for her family and friends Sunday, June 25,2023.

Interment: Back home in Texas!

She’s Coming Home…
Arrived safely in Texas-June 30,2023. 

Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. with a 5 p.m. rosary, on Friday, July 7, 2023, at Legacy Chapels, 4610 South Jackson Road in Edinburg. Chapel service will be at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at Legacy Chapels in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Edinburg.  

We want to give Molly the memorial she deserves to honor her memory, grant her final wishes- bringing her back home to Texas, and say our final goodbyes.  We welcome all who remember her to come to her visitation and share your stories of when she was a young girl living in Texas. A memorial bench will be placed in her memory for all to continue to visit her at Hillcrest Memorial Park.