Maria Davila Arseneau

Maria Trinidad Davila Arseneau, 46, of Bourbonnais passed away Thursday, Jan. 19 at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. due to complications from Marfan syndrome. She was born May 2, 1970 in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Jose Enrique and Maria Trinidad “Trini” (Estrada) Davila from Bourbonnais, Ill. and Barranquilla, Colombia. After Maria graduated with a political science degree from the University of Illinois, a major heart surgery derailed her plans to go to law school. It was something that would have crushed the spirit of a lesser woman, but inspired Maria to pursue her true calling: teaching. For nearly two decades she held court in the foreign language hallway of Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School, her alma mater. Describing her as a Spanish teacher, though — even a wonderful one — is woefully inadequate. Beginning with her first class of students in 1999, she was so much more than an educator. Maria was a mentor, a life coach, a teller of blunt truths, an inspiration, a force to be reckoned with. If any of her students were asked to name the most valuable lesson they learned from her, it’s virtually guaranteed that none would answer “conjugating verbs in the subjunctive” or “learning to ask where the library is.” Any one of the hundreds would likely share details of a lesson in life or love, taught with the utmost care and a healthy dose of humor. While she and her husband Tim didn’t have any children themselves, they willingly inherited scores of them. They welcomed students into their home and treated them like family, serving as surrogate cool relatives whom young men and women on the cusp of the scary adult world could approach for honest advice — or even just some much-needed laughs during a time of stress. Maria’s quick wit combined sarcasm and sometimes-inappropriate humor, and meant no one around her went long without smiling. Her laugh was infectious. She loved making people happy, no matter what she was struggling with herself. In fact, many who were close to Maria were unaware of the health issues plaguing her, which was by design. She would much rather spend time cooking, dancing or watching cheesy romantic comedies than unloading her worries onto friends and family. Though, when it comes to listening to others, there was no one better. Maria was warm, empathetic and willing to go to the ends of the earth for those she loved. It’s no surprise that many of her friendships date back to her elementary school days. Maria is a shining example of how to love the people in your life — and that was especially true with Tim, her best friend, soulmate and partner in crime whom she married in 2003. Not many people can say they’ve truly left a legacy. Maria has. Her spirit will live on not only in the people she knew, but also through stories told about her humor and compassion and strength to those who never had the remarkable privilege of meeting her. Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will be held at Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School Main Gym, 700 W. North St., Bradley, Ill. on Sunday February 5th, 2017 from 11:00 to 3:00 PM. A formal remembrance ceremony will be from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. Parking is available in the back lot. Entry through the atrium doors. A funeral service will be held at Maternity BVM church, 308 E. Marsile St., Bourbonnais, Ill. on Monday February 6th, 2017. Greeting from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. Funeral service starting at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maria T. Arseneau Scholarship Fund in care of the family. Surviving Maria are her husband, U.S. Army Colonel Timothy Arseneau of Bourbonnais; her father, Jose Davila of Bourbonnais; her sister, Deisy Esther Davila (David) Anderson of Bourbonnais; brothers-in-law, Michael (Maria Victoria) Arseneau of Bourbonnais and Jerome (Carrie) Arseneau of Manteno; sister-in-law, Nicoele Arseneau of Manteno; five nieces, Mia Rose Anderson, Margaret, Sophia, Gabriela and Kennedy Arseneau; three nephews Andrew, Jacob and Christopher Arseneau; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; hundreds of friends and students. Please post memorials on line at the following site: http://memorial.yourtribute.com/MariaDavilaArseneau/

Maria Davila Arseneau

May 2, 1970 - January 19, 2017