Gilberto Villasenor Obituary

Villasenor, Sr., Gilberto Founder of the Legacy that is V&V Supremo, Inc. passes away at the age of 80. 44 years ago a young man with little resources decided he would give to his community a part of the culture most left behind as immigrants from México, Queso Fresco. Gilberto Villasenor, Sr. began a journey that would span decades, filling the wants and needs of generations of loyal customers and consumers of the products his company still makes today. Don Gilberto as he was known, passed away this morning at the age of 80 surrounded by his loving wife of 51 years, Mrs. Francisca Villasenor; his children, Gilberto II, Pilar, David, Lidia, Irene and Luis; two siblings, Anastacio and Celerina Villasenor. In 1963, leaving his family behind in México with the goal of establishing a new life in the U.S. for all, Don Gilberto arrived in Chicago with a goal of starting a company of his own. Born in Michoacan México in 1928, a consummate entrepreneur, Don Gilberto had already been a small business owner in México City. As a result, the V&V Supremo Foods Company was born in 1964. Over the next 44 years, Don Gilberto oversaw his company, which began in a small building on 47th & Ashland in the "Back of the Yards", grow to a company that distributes it products nationally and soon internationally. However, this is only a small part of the man. He was a strong and committed family man, an advisor for many of the customers that came to his business, daily, weekly or even monthly for advice on their own businesses. He became part of the fabric of the community he worked and lived in. He often said, "I could see the character of a person through their eyes", and he did. Having the respect of his customers, vendors and employees, he conducted business with a handshake. He was a serious man, yet had a great sense of humor. Most of all he was a compassionate man with a big heart for those that struggled. Manuel Carrasco, Will Call Manager at V&V Supremo, remembers the many times Don Gilberto "would take time to sit and eat lunch with his crew just to make sure we knew how much he appreciated us." Survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Mrs. Francisca Villasenor; his six children; 27 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and two siblings. Funeral Services for Gilberto Villasenor, Sr. will be Wednesday, October 29, 2008, at 9:15 a.m., from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Road, Joliet to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Joliet for Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Entombment Woodlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association would be appreciated. Visitation Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, 3 to 8 p.m. For information: 815-741-5500 or www.fredcdames.com