Carmela Delgado

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our dearest wife, mother, and grandmother Carmela

(Padilla) Delgado at the age of 93. Carmela (Mela, Mel) was born on February 28, 1933 to the late Tomás

and Arnulfa Padilla (nèe Palomares) in Chicago, Illinois. She was welcomed into Heaven on August 4, 2026

at her home in Wentzville, Missouri with her loving family by her side.

Carmela attended and graduated Thomas Kelly College Preparatory High School in Chicago, Illinois. She

began her career working at Alden’s, then known as the Chicago Mail Order Company, which was an

industrial and retail powerhouse. Carmela worked in customer service for 10 years before finding her love,

Tony, and married in 1958.

Carmela and Tony spent 35 years raising their family in Burbank, Illinois. Her home on Long Avenue was a

frequent gathering place for neighborhood kids, friends, and family. Mela greeted everyone with an open

door, welcoming heart, and quite often trays of sandwiches or tacos to feed a hungry crew! Her unwavering

commitment to her family and faith, and compassion to others remained a constant throughout her life.

During her time in Burbank, Carmela was an active member of St. Albert the Great Catholic Church and its

Ladies Guild. She created lasting friendships with parish and school families. She worked as a banquet

waitress for the Midland Hotel until she retired at 62. She served and was a lead server for some of

Chicago’s finest. Mela especially loved it when the Midland Hotel hosted the Chicago Bulls and Bears, and

meeting her favorite players Walter Payton, Gary Fencik, Otis Wilson, Dan Hampton, and Michael Jordan.

Carmela loved watching all types of sporting events on television, especially her beloved Chicago Teams!

Her love of sports began with her being a tomboy as a child, then grew to eventually playing on a softball

team of her own for the Burbank Park District named The Hustlers. Mela and Tony also loved dancing and

being gracious and fun hosts to friends. In later days, you could find them in their giant backyard with

friends around a fire or talking and laughing in the screened-in patio to stay safe from the weather.

Because they wanted to be closer to their grandchildren, Tony and Carmela moved to Wentzville, Missouri

in 2002. She found her greatest joy in time spent with her children and grandchildren and relished

gathering for big meals, holidays, birthdays, tamale day, and ordinary days. Carmela adored mornings of

making breakfast for her grandchildren before getting them to school, or afternoons and evenings

applauding them at numerous cross-country and track events, as well as band, dance and theatrical

performances.

Carmela loved deeply and was loved completely. Her heart was our haven and her physical presence will

be missed forever. ��

Carmela is survived and cherished by her adoring husband of 67 years Anthony, and her children Tony

(Robin) Delgado of Sarasota, Florida, Robert Delgado of Wright City, Missouri, Melissa (Sean) Bippen of St.

Peters, Missouri, and Felicia (Robert) MacFarlane of Joliet, Illinois. She will be forever in the hearts of her

cherished grandchildren Ashley Delgado, Haley (Jake Goldsborough) Delgado, Cadence Bippen, Carlin

Bippen, Sam Bippen, and her great-grandchildren Brendan and Nathan Goldsborough. Carmela is also

survived by her loving sisters Genevieve Padilla and Eloise (Peter) Santoyo, brother-in-law, Roberto

Delgado and sister-in-law, Josefina Delgado. She has countless nieces and nephews and many friends that

will cherish her memory.

Carmela is preceded in death by her parents Tomás and Arnulfa Padilla, her in-laws, Pedro and Josefina

Delgado, and dearest siblings Carmel Padilla, Eleanor (Nicholas) Almanza, Rosa (Thomas) Villanueva, Paul

Padilla, Daniel (Carmen) Padilla, Augustina (John) Rodriguez, David (Sarah) Padilla, Francisco Padilla, and

Thomas Padilla. She is also preceded in death by several brothers and sisters-in-law in Mexico. We are

certain she was welcomed into heaven by their loving embrace.