Carolina Ybarra Arias

It is with heavy heart and deep sorrow that we mourn the passing of our beloved mother Carolina Ybarra Arias formerly of San Antonio Texas, more recently South Elgin Illinois who passed on July 1st, 2026 at the age of 100. She was born in a small town called Marianna in Texas on August 26,1925.

Carolina and her husband Amando raised 5 children and spent most of that time between San Antonio and suburban Chicagoland. At a time when few women worked full time, Carolina did and remained a supportive loving mother making sure her children were cared for, had adequate meals and were always ready to start a day. She will be remembered for her spunky attitude never holding back what she thought, her fierce loyalty to her family and her incredible cooking skills. She loved nothing more than cooking for everyone who stepped through her door. Occasionally, taking time to teach her grandchildren how to cook pinto beans, make flour tortillas, tamales and even how to dance to Mexican ballads.

In her later years she would enjoy simple things like needlepoint, having completed beautiful pieces. Tending to her plants as she loved gardening. Playing Dominoes with her family as it also brought her immense delight. Eventually, she settled into a quiet time, reflecting on how life used to be.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 70 years, Amando A Arias (1924-2015) Cherished son Ralph Y. Arias (1946-2017) daughter-in-law Juanita Z. Arias (1946-2020) treasured grandson Nicholas Joseph Arias (1994-2016). Parents Anselmo Gonzales Ybarra (1898-1990) and Maria Neira Ybarra (1900-1975) four sisters Genoveva Rodriguez, Aurora Lopez, Guadalupe Mendoza and Melva Salazar, two brothers Enrique Ybarra and Arnulfo Ybarra.

Survived and profoundly missed by her children Amando Arias Jr., Tomas Arias, Velinda Thacker, Henry (Rick) Arias (Jennifer),19 Grandchildren, 23 Great Grandchildren, 4 Great -Great Grandchildren. Additionally, her life touched the hearts of many nieces, nephews, and extended family

You will always be in the hearts, the smiles and the eyes of your family.

Amando Jr. thanks you for giving us life,

Tomas will miss your amazing cooking,

Velinda will miss hearing your pride telling staff “This is my only daughter”

Rick will deeply miss the sweet sound of you calling out Mijo!!

"The journey does not end here.

Love continues in the stories we

tell and the memories we keep"

Celebration of Life to be Private