Margarita "Ma" Linares

July 4, 1930 - May 8, 2014

Margarita “Ma” Vargas Linares, 83, of Hoopeston, IL, passed away at 7:34 P.M. Thursday May 8, 2014, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL. She was born July 4, 1930, in Matehuala, Mexico, the daughter of Matias and Tifania (Rodriguez) Vargas. She married Juan R. Linares on June 10, 1949, in Harlingen, Texas. He survives in Hoopeston. She is survived by two daughters, Maria G. Linares of Hoopeston, IL and Maribel (Kenneth) Baumberger of Indianapolis, IN; five sons, Juan “Joe” (Jane) Linares of Fort Madison, IA, Ernesto "Ernie" Linares of Hoopeston, IL, Raul “Rudy” (Lori) Linares of Westville, IL, George (Amy) Linares of Hoopeston, IL, Raymond (Sarah) Linares of Bloomington, IL; one sister, Lenor (Miguel) Gomez of Matehuala, Mexico; one brother, Ricardo (Antonia) Barrientos of Monterrey, Mexico; 21 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, one son Eduardo Luis “Eddie” Linares; two infant sons, Raul and Pedro and one brother Rosario “Chalo” Vargas. Margarita worked at Joan of Arc and Pillsbury canning companies in Hoopeston, until her retirement. She was an instrumental member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, where she served on the Altar & Rosary Society and the Guadalupano Group. She was also co-founder of the St. Anthony taco stand fundraising during the National Sweetcorn Festival in Hoopeston and helped served tacos every year. Margarita was a longtime volunteer of Hoopeston Midget Football and Little League, the McFerren Park Playground Project and various other committees. Her hobbies included sewing and cooking. Margarita’s greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family and friends and attending her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s extra-curricular activities. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church 423 S. Third St. Hoopeston, IL 60942 or the Carle Auxiliary Guest House 611 W. Park St. Urbana, IL 61801.