Joliet Family Gives Mother Birthday Parade

JOLIET, IL —Celebrations are changing these days due to the effects of COVID-19 and social distancing. One family knows that all too well. To celebrate Margarita Mancera’s 72^nd birthday on Thursday, April 30, her family planned a 4 p.m. surprise parade in front of her home, which included 35 family and friends in 17 cars and seven motorcycles.

Unfortunately, due to social distancing and Margarita’s underlying health issues, she has been away from her family and friends for nearly two months now. Margarita, who lives with her husband, has been a dialysis patient for the last 24 years. The dedicated wife, mother of four, and grandmother of six has attended her dialysis treatments three times a week at Silver Cross Hospital. As someone who is high risk for possibly contracting coronavirus, her family performs well-being checks on Margarita and her husband from afar through calls and messages. However, they wanted her to feel especially loved and appreciated on her birthday this year since they couldn’t celebrate in their normal manner together.

The birthday parade in front of the family’s longtime Joliet home was not only a surprise but a memory that Margarita will never forget. It was well-deserving for such a nice and positive Joliet resident.