Marilu dos Santos, age 63, passed away with her family at her side on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 following a battle with liver cancer, through which she never lost her smile.

She is survived by her children, Lana (Jericho) Zaccaria, and Joseph (Dylan Perkins) dos Santos Crump; granddaughter, Marcia Zaccaria; siblings, Marcos Antonio Ribeiro dos Santos, Arlindo dos Santos Filho, and Marisa Ribeiro dos Santos. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Preceded in death by her parents, Arlindo and Wanda dos Santos, and her friend, Marianne Liauba.

Marilu was born in 1960 in her beloved city of Taubaté, São Paulo in Brazil. As the youngest of 4, she developed moxie like none of us have ever seen before. Intelligent and courageous, she left her beloved home country to attend college at Ball State University to follow her passion in life - linguistics - at the age of 24.

During her time at Ball State, she completed a Master's Degree in Linguistics and began a doctorate program which took her to the depths of the Amazon Rainforest. She spent 3 months living with the Suruí (Paiter), an indigenous tribe of the Amazon, detailing and building the only written copy of their language. She only stopped working on her dissertation when she discovered she was pregnant with her first child in 1994.

This is because, ultimately, her one true dream was to be a mother. When asked if she regretted stepping away from her doctorate to raise her children, the answer was always a proud, happy "Never!"

Never once was she deterred by challenges or from chasing her dreams. In 2019, Marilu became a naturalized citizen of the United States after years of desiring to become one.

Marilu was a lover as much as she was a fighter. She loved her children, her family, her church, nature, her country, and - potentially above all - food. She showered her loved ones with gifts of food, coffee, and the best hugs any of us has ever known.

She fought fiercely, she gave generously, and she loved completely. She will be deeply missed, and never forgotten.

Per Marilu's wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. A celebration of life will be held at Universalist Unitarian Church, 3401 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL on March 2, 2024 at 12:00 pm.

For more information, please call 815-725-0100 or visit www.farkasfuneralhome.com.