Kathleen “Kathie” L. Camarena

Kathleen “Kathie” L. Camarena, 70, of Crystal Lake passed away peacefully on April 13, 2023. She was born on September 21, 1952 in Aurora, Il to the late Roy and Eleanor Brasfield.

Kathie was raised in Oak Park, Lake in the Hills, and Algonquin, where she attended St. Margaret Mary’s School and then Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock. She worked at a variety of jobs from helping at the family laundromat, cooking at Port Edward’s Restaurant, and eventually as a shift supervisor at Wabash Tape Corporation where she caught the attention of a fellow supervisor with a nice mustache and a twinkle in his eye. On November 23, 1974, Kathie married the love of her life, Ruben Camarena. Together, they celebrated 48 beautiful years of marriage and were blessed with two daughters, Angie and Ramie.

Kathie and Ruben were the proud owners of El Sombrerito Rojo Restaurant in Carpentersville for 29 years, and it truly was a family-run business. She worked at the restaurant and managed the accounting, enjoyed spending time with friends and family, hosting many parties at their home, attending her daughters’ and grandchildren’s sporting events, reading, music, and playing all kinds of word games.

Kathie also loved to travel.  She spent quite a bit of time camping with her family when she was young, and then later on with Ruben and the kids. As the girls grew, they had some memorable adventures traveling over the years, but whether she was visiting Mexico, Spain, Hawaii, Alaska, Niagara Falls, The Bahamas, or their cabin in Cotton, MN, she was always happiest just being with her family. A natural caregiver, Kathie was attentive to her parents as they aged and even styled her mother’s hair every week, a skill she learned in cosmetology school. She also adored being “G” to her grandkids, helping to care for and watch them grow.

Kathie’s intelligence, kindness, humor, quick wit, patience, and undeniable strength will be deeply missed by her devoted husband, Ruben; daughters, Angie (Shaun) McKay and Ramie (Tim Sampson) Camarena; grandchildren, Tristan and Parker McKay and Elliot Sampson; her siblings, Ray (Joyce) Brasfield, Susie (Charlie) Healy, Bill Brasfield, and Geri Brasfield.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Maryanne Steinlein; infant brother, Roy Brasfield; and beloved dog, Heidi.

Memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, April 22 from 9:00-10:00 a.m., followed by a Memorial Mass at 10:00 am., both at St. Margaret Mary Parish, 111 South Hubbard St., Algonquin, IL 60102. Inurnment to follow immediately after mass with a funeral procession to St. John Nepomucene Cemetery, Algonquin. Guests are invited to honor the memory of Kathie and celebrate her life and legacy with a luncheon reception to follow; details will be shared at the Memorial visitation and mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate Masses to be said for Kathie at St. Margaret Mary (Algonquin), St. Thomas the Apostle (Crystal Lake), or to St. James Church (Arlington Heights).