Antonia Compean Gonzalez Age 92 years of Chicago, Illinois passed away in her Chicago home on the morning of October 1, 2023. Pilsen was her home for over five decades. She was born in the town of Santa Maria, Texas, what is known as “El Valle”. Her mother’s last name was Rodriguez and her father’s name being Fernando Compean, which they were born in Matahuala, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. She was baptized in Mercedes, Texas and went to high school in La Feria, Texas. She migrated to Chicago in the early 60’s, as a single woman, with many close friends, from Harlingen, Texas and worked as a nurse assistant at Loretto Hospital. She went to her parish, St. Pius V. Church and received her high school diploma.
She later went on to cosmetology school and received her teaching license and begin to work at different schools in Chicago. She was given the opportunity to purchase the school, which she taught at and became a single parent business owner. She purchased Arrow Beauty School on Milwaukee Avenue, between Ashland and Division, in the early 80’s, for many years. She was a pioneer in the cosmetology field by working with Chicago Public Schools and offering young students, the opportunity to choose cosmetology as an elective in high schools. Many of those students came from Benito Juarez High School, in Pilsen and other northside high schools. These students not only received a high school diploma, but also a beautician license, to begin with a career exiting high school. She was a staple in the many communities. Many of her students that graduated from her school opened up beauty salons all over Pilsen and down 26th Street in Little Village. Other students became teachers and directors of schools themselves. She sold her business to retire for a very short time when asked to become a director for a school in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, called Futurama Beauty Academy. She was the director, almost to her dying day.
She is survived by her two children, Susie Gonzales and Javier Gonzalez, her grandchildren, John Steven Gonzales and Melissa Gonzales, and her great grandchildren. Antonia will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Visitation: Monday, October 9, 2023 at St. Pius V. Church, 1901 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60608. 3:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Funeral Service: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at St. Pius V. Church, 1901 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60608. Celebration of Life Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial: St. Mary Cemetery, 87 th and Hamlin Avenue, Evergreen Park, Illinois 60805.
