Ophelia Alegria Cordero

Ophelia “Lily” Alegria Cordero, 78, of Palm Coast, Florida, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, in Park Ridge, Illinois, surrounded by her children after a brief and sudden medical event.

Born April 10, 1946 in Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines, as the third of six children to Ricaredo and Nicolasa Alegria. They moved to Quezon City after the war in October 1946. Lily (as she was known to her family) demonstrated her strong-willed personality early as a child, when she refused to finish Kindergarten because she got bored and claimed she already knew everything. She continued on as an honor student and graduated Valedictorian in elementary school.

After receiving her Food Science degree from the University of the Philippines, she emigrated to Chicago in 1969. Ophie then led a successful career in Research and Product Development for various prepared food companies throughout Chicagoland.

Happily married to Antonio Cordero (deceased) for over 45 years, she was the proud mother of Anthony (Tanya) and Christina (Joshua) and devoted lola to Lucas and Diana. Following a rewarding professional career, she and Antonio retired to Palm Coast, Florida, in 2007.

Retirement allowed her the time to pursue a host of interests. She was a special event church choir conductor and regular scripture reader, an active member of her golf and tennis leagues, a shopper of the spice markets of Morocco, and explorer of the wonders of over 50 countries worldwide. Ophie entered every situation with style, grace, and an outfit to match. She had a personality, energy, and natural ability to make and build a greater community of trusted friends and loved ones wherever she went.

In many ways Ophie led her life on her terms and did so with an approach that was always caring, considerate, welcoming, and inclusive of those around her. Her death leaves behind an absence that will never be filled as her presence was profound for those who had the honor to know her.

Services will be held on December 27th at St. Mary’s Church, 10 N Buffalo Grove Road in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Visitation at 10am followed by mass at 11am. A second memorial mass and celebration of life will be held at her parish in Palm Coast, Florida, to be announced at a later date.

For further information, please contact Glueckert Funeral Home 847-253-0168