Happy life filled with labor, family

Alejo R. Caraballo found his true American dream when he moved his family in 1963 from Chicago's Humboldt neighborhood to Hoffman Estates.

It was on Jamison Lane where Mr. Caraballo, a native of Puerto Rico, and his wife, Crusita, bought their first home for $17,000.

They followed a lead set by Mr. Caraballo's brother, who told them of affordable homes in a growing community with warm, friendly neighborhoods.

"I remember my father saying it was wide open when they came here, with neighborhoods surrounded by farms," says his youngest daughter, Lisa Caraballo-Schumacher of East Troy, Wis. "But it was an environment that was ideal for raising a growing family."

His children and grandchildren now are cherishing those memories. Mr. Caraballo passed away Friday. The 44-year resident of Hoffman Estates was 82.

Mr. Caraballo was born in Puerto Rico in 1925, and he emigrated to this country in 1940, with his mother. They arrived first in New York, where both found work, before moving to Chicago two years later.

At the age of 17, Mr. Caraballo worked as a busboy clearing tables at the Palmer House in Chicago. His job there set the tone for the tireless work ethic he followed as an adult.

After moving to Hoffman Estates, Mr. Caraballo worked two full time jobs to support his family, starting at 5 a.m. working in the Hotpoint factory in Chicago, before returning to the suburbs to work the night shift in housekeeping at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village.

Crusita Caraballo, who passed away two years ago, worked for Illinois Bell Telephone to help support the family.

In all, the family had seven children, who all attended Hoffman Estates schools and were devoted parishioners at St. Hubert Catholic Church.

"Those are some of my best memories, growing up on Jamison Lane, where we had many family gatherings," Caraballo-Schumacher adds. "It was a very happy, content childhood."

Her older brother, James Caraballo, now of Scottsdale, AZ., says there always was music in their home, mostly Salsa music, and they enjoyed traditional Puerto Rican meals for the holidays.

Besides his son and daughter, Mr. Caraballo is survived by daughters Mary (Miguel) Mercado and Josephine (Sal) Ortiz, both of Hoffman Estates; Maribelle (Michael) Petsinger of Chandler, AZ; Alex Jr. (Barbara) of Plainfield, IN; and Eddie of Belvidere; as well as 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Hubert Catholic Church, 729 Grand Canyon St., Hoffman Estates.