Gerald "Jerry" Buendia

Born on March 17th, 1982, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago, Jerry grew up in West Town neighborhood in Chicago. He attended Holy Trinity High School, where he excelled in sports like cross-country and swimming. Later, he transferred to Wells High School and earned his high school diploma from West Town Academy. Jerry continued his education at Malcolm X College in Chicago while working in the food service industry for Blue Plate and Paramount events. His strong work ethic and ability to connect with others blossomed during this time. Transitioning to a career as a Route Sales Representative at Mickey's Linen in 2016, Jerry showed unwavering dedication and passion, earning the respect of colleagues and clients alike.

But beyond work, Jerry's greatest joy was his family. He cherished his role as a devoted father to Viviana Buendia and a caring stepfather to Johan Miyares. Jerry loved life's adventures, whether exploring parks and neighborhoods with Viviana or enjoying family barbecues and exploring nature on weekends with the family. He was a loyal fan of the Chicago Bulls “win or lose” and enjoyed playing games, board games, pool, and poker with loved ones. Known as "RAGE" in the Chicago tagging community, Jerry expressed his creativity through graffiti art, leaving a lasting impact on those who admired his work.

Halloween was a special time for Jerry, filled with horror movies, dressing up, and taking Viviana trick-or-treating. He always shared the joy by passing out candy to neighborhood children with Viviana and Johan. One of Jerry's greatest pleasures was his annual trips to Milwaukee with Liliana, where they celebrated life together and embraced new experiences. They relished in the company of each other and the vibrant culture of Milwaukee, fondly referring to it as "La ciudad de los cerveceros" Jerry's adventurous spirit led him on memorable road trips, including a journey from Chicago to St. Monica, California, with Liliana and Johan to attend his nephew, Leandro's 1st birthday and spend time with family in California creating lasting memories together.

In the wake of Jerry's passing, his infectious smile, playful spirit, and love for his family and friends will be deeply missed, yet his memory will continue to inspire those who knew him.

Jerry is survived by his wife Liliana Diaz, daughter Viviana Buendia, step-son Johan Miyares, mother Margarita Morales, father Gerardo Buendia, brother Jesse Buendia, nephew Leandro, sister-in-law Carmen Ramos, and many other family members and friends.

Friends and family will gather for a visitation for Jerry that will be held on Sunday, March 24th, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Mount Auburn Funeral Home, 4101 South Oak Park Avenue, Stickney, Illinois 60402.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MountAuburnFuneralHome.com for the Buendia family.