Antonio "Tony" KaramAge 78 of Big Rock, passed away peacefully at his home, Friday morning, October 3, 2008. BORN / EARLY YEARSHe was born, May 21, 1930 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, the son of Jorge and Carmen (Baruqui) Karam."Tony" grew up in Guadalajara, graduated from college and for a time, worked with his father and brothers in the family textile business. But Tony saw his future in the U.S. and at age thirty, left for Chicago. He knew no one and could not speak English but Tony knew the language of sales and in Chicago, that language soon found success. In time, he became a premier sales representative for Paris and Allied, a supplier to some of Chicago’s finest hotels. His future bride would be Helen Abram, manager of the YMCA hotel on Waubash. She never forgot the sight of this handsome man arriving at the hotel in his three-piece suit. It was October 12, 1965. Charming but "Mr. No-Nonsense", Tony took her order, and, a cup of coffee later – turned to leave and said, "I’ll pick you up at 6pm Friday". His brash confidence swept her off her feet and an amazingly storied life began. A few dates later she took Tony home to the Abram family farm in Campton Hills. He may have won Helen’s heart in a month but winning her mother’s approval would take a year. Tony and Helen were wed on January 14, 1967 at the Baker United Methodist Church, St. Charles. A week later, on the eve of the blizzard of 1967, Tony’s family would arrive in Chicago for a second wedding. The snow stranded everyone and stories of that week abound to this day but on January 30th they were wed at St. Ida’s on Broadway. The following day, tragedy struck as Helen’s father died suddenly. Soon, however, the young couple would leave for Mexico and Guadaljara would become home for the next twelve years. When the economy crashed in 1976, the following year, Tony and Helen packed up their young family of three and returned to the Abram family farm. With hard work and the loving support of Helen’s family, they moved to Big Rock where they settled into the property that became the Karam homestead. Tony and a partner operated a gift-line show room at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago for several years but when the commute from Big Rock became a burden, Tony switched gears and joined the sales staff at Don McCue Chevrolet, St. Charles. He worked his way to Sales Manager and continued with McCue until the day of his death. It is rumored in fact, that by Friday evening, St. Peter was holding the keys to a car he never even knew he needed. LIFE NOTES True to his heritage, Tony was a man whose life revolved around family and work. In his youth he loved to train and show dogs. He also loved trap shooting and horseback riding and was a handsome Mexican Charro when he would ride in the Gudalajara parades and festivals. If you knew Tony, you knew his dry sense of humor. His one-liners were legendary and no one was safe from them. At home or at work, you could set your watch by Tony’s daily routine and the best of those routines were simply rituals that revolved around good food and good times. Of all his accomplishments, none meant more to Tony than those of his children and grandchildren. His favorite pass-time, was taking his grandchildren for rides in his 1973 red Cadillac convertible. In years to come, they will remember those rides and picture him forever, cruising down the country roads of heaven.SURVIVORS In addition to his wife, Helen, he is survived by:Three children and their families. John (Tracey) Karam of Reno, NV, and their children:Spencer, Emma;Carmen (Rick) Carls of Hinckley, IL, and their children:Mack and Courtney ;Tony (Shannon) Karam of South Elgin, IL, and their children:Hayden, Calen and Camden (1, twins);One sister, Suzanna Baruqui,one brother, Edwardo (Aminie) Karam andone aunt, Angela Chein, all of Guadalajara, Mexico, As well as many nieces and nephews and their families. One brother-in-law, David Abram of Elburn, And several special cousins-in-law:Nancy (Pete) Karis of Western Springs, IL,Anne (Bruce) Brownelle of Long Island, NY,Mary McElroy of California andRichard (Nancy) Shiller of LaGrange, IL.PRECEDED He is preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, Alejandra, Louise, Felipe and Emily. VISITATION / FUNERAL Friends are invited to share memories with the family at visitation hours from 4pm to 8pm, Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St. Elburn. Following cremation, private family committal services will be held. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Tony’s name to benefit his favorite charities. Memorials checks may be made to the ¬¬Tony Karam Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information call 630-365-6414 or 800-8-CONLEY.

Friends are invited to share memories with the family at visitation hours from 4pm to 8pm, Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St. Elburn. Following cremation, private family committal services will be held.

MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Tony’s name to benefit his favorite charities. Memorials checks may be made to the ¬¬Tony Karam Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information call 630-365-6414 or 800-8-CONLEY.

Antonio "Tony" KaramAge 78 of Big Rock, passed away peacefully at his home, Friday morning, October 3, 2008. BORN / EARLY YEARSHe was born, May 21, 1930 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, the son of Jorge and Carmen (Baruqui) Karam."Tony" grew up in Guadalajara, graduated from college and for a time, worked with his father and brothers in the family textile business. But Tony saw his future in the U.S. and at age thirty, left for Chicago. He knew no one and could not speak English but Tony knew the language of sales and in Chicago, that language soon found success. In time, he became a premier sales representative for Paris and Allied, a supplier to some of Chicago’s finest hotels. His future bride would be Helen Abram, manager of the YMCA hotel on Waubash. She never forgot the sight of this handsome man arriving at the hotel in his three-piece suit. It was October 12, 1965. Charming but "Mr. No-Nonsense", Tony took her order, and, a cup of coffee later – turned to leave and said, "I’ll pick you up at 6pm Friday". His brash confidence swept her off her feet and an amazingly storied life began. A few dates later she took Tony home to the Abram family farm in Campton Hills. He may have won Helen’s heart in a month but winning her mother’s approval would take a year. Tony and Helen were wed on January 14, 1967 at the Baker United Methodist Church, St. Charles. A week later, on the eve of the blizzard of 1967, Tony’s family would arrive in Chicago for a second wedding. The snow stranded everyone and stories of that week abound to this day but on January 30th they were wed at St. Ida’s on Broadway. The following day, tragedy struck as Helen’s father died suddenly. Soon, however, the young couple would leave for Mexico and Guadaljara would become home for the next twelve years. When the economy crashed in 1976, the following year, Tony and Helen packed up their young family of three and returned to the Abram family farm. With hard work and the loving support of Helen’s family, they moved to Big Rock where they settled into the property that became the Karam homestead. Tony and a partner operated a gift-line show room at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago for several years but when the commute from Big Rock became a burden, Tony switched gears and joined the sales staff at Don McCue Chevrolet, St. Charles. He worked his way to Sales Manager and continued with McCue until the day of his death. It is rumored in fact, that by Friday evening, St. Peter was holding the keys to a car he never even knew he needed. LIFE NOTES True to his heritage, Tony was a man whose life revolved around family and work. In his youth he loved to train and show dogs. He also loved trap shooting and horseback riding and was a handsome Mexican Charro when he would ride in the Gudalajara parades and festivals. If you knew Tony, you knew his dry sense of humor. His one-liners were legendary and no one was safe from them. At home or at work, you could set your watch by Tony’s daily routine and the best of those routines were simply rituals that revolved around good food and good times. Of all his accomplishments, none meant more to Tony than those of his children and grandchildren. His favorite pass-time, was taking his grandchildren for rides in his 1973 red Cadillac convertible. In years to come, they will remember those rides and picture him forever, cruising down the country roads of heaven.SURVIVORS In addition to his wife, Helen, he is survived by:Three children and their families. John (Tracey) Karam of Reno, NV, and their children:Spencer, Emma;Carmen (Rick) Carls of Hinckley, IL, and their children:Mack and Courtney ;Tony (Shannon) Karam of South Elgin, IL, and their children:Hayden, Calen and Camden (1, twins);One sister, Suzanna Baruqui,one brother, Edwardo (Aminie) Karam andone aunt, Angela Chein, all of Guadalajara, Mexico, As well as many nieces and nephews and their families. One brother-in-law, David Abram of Elburn, And several special cousins-in-law:Nancy (Pete) Karis of Western Springs, IL,Anne (Bruce) Brownelle of Long Island, NY,Mary McElroy of California andRichard (Nancy) Shiller of LaGrange, IL.PRECEDED He is preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, Alejandra, Louise, Felipe and Emily. VISITATION / FUNERAL Friends are invited to share memories with the family at visitation hours from 4pm to 8pm, Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St. Elburn. Following cremation, private family committal services will be held. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Tony’s name to benefit his favorite charities. Memorials checks may be made to the ¬¬Tony Karam Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information call 630-365-6414 or 800-8-CONLEY.

Friends are invited to share memories with the family at visitation hours from 4pm to 8pm, Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St. Elburn. Following cremation, private family committal services will be held.

MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Tony’s name to benefit his favorite charities. Memorials checks may be made to the ¬¬Tony Karam Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information call 630-365-6414 or 800-8-CONLEY.