With profound sadness and endless love, we announce the passing of Conception (Connie) Puentes, who entered eternal rest on Saturday, July 4, 2026, surrounded by the love of her children and grandchildren.

Connie was born on March 14, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Connie and Pete Puentes. She grew up in Lake Station, attended River Forest High School and spent most of her life in East Chicago before making her home in Hammond, Indiana, where she resided until her passing.

She lived her life with incredible strength, resilience, humor, and unwavering love for those she held dear. Connie was truly one of a kind. She spoke her mind without hesitation, stood firm in what she believed, and had a mischievous sense of humor that could make anyone laugh. She was genuine, outspoken, fiercely loyal, and loved her family with all her heart.

Connie found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She loved listening to music, dancing whenever her favorite song came on, and could often be found challenging herself with crossword puzzles and Sudoku. She was known throughout her family for making delicious homemade flour tortillas that brought everyone back to the table. Her grandchildren were often “encouraged” to sit down and watch classic movies like Annie, creating memories they’ll laugh about for years to come. 

One thing no one will ever forget were Connie’s voicemails. They usually started with the sweetest greeting and somehow ended with a few colorful choice words. It was simply Connie being Connie—honest, hilarious, completely unfiltered, and always leaving you smiling. Those messages, like Connie herself, were full of love, laughter, honesty, and personality. To know Connie was to know someone who loved wholeheartedly. She celebrated loudly, protected fiercely, forgave when she could, and always remained unapologetically herself. Connie leaves behind a legacy of strength, resilience, humor, and unconditional love. While her absence leaves an unimaginable void, her spirit will continue to live on in the stories shared around family tables, in the music that she loved, in every homemade tortilla, and in the generations of family who will proudly carry her memory forward.

Her greatest accomplishment and deepest joy in life was her family. She was the proud mother of five loving children: Juanita (Reggie) Brooks, Juan (Rosalinda) Puentes, Joseph (Laila) Puentes, Marcela Luna (the late Joaquin), and Kristina Puentes (Tiara). She also leaves behind her special companion, Guadalupe Muñoz, who shared many cherished years by her side.

Connie was the proud grandmother of 24 grandchildren: Marcus, Anjelica, Destiny, Yvette, Julian, Christian, Aleya, Juanita, Victoria, Melvin, Fernando, Dejalae, Desarea, Kiyla, Joseph, Ciara, Elijah, Geane, Viviana, Jeremiah, Janiyah, Mateo, Luciano, and Angie. Her family continued to grow with the blessing of 30 great-grandchildren, each one bringing her immeasurable pride and joy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Connie and Pete Puentes; her brothers and sister, Charles Tellez, Eugene Tellez, 1st Rebecca Puentes, Pete Puentes, James Puentes, Lawrence Puentes and Augustine Puentes; her beloved nieces, Debra Puentes and Rosa Maria Wilkes; and her cherished lifelong best friend, Elisa Del Rio. When Connie moved to East Chicago as a young woman, Elisa became her very first best friend. Their friendship blossomed into a bond that lasted a lifetime, and Elisa became a second mother to Connie’s children. Their love for one another was rooted in loyalty, laughter, and unconditional support, and Connie carried Elisa’s memory in her heart every day.

She is lovingly survived by her brothers and sisters, Mary Alatorre, Joseph Tellez, Raymond Tellez, and Richard (Ramona) Tellez, Rebecca Leyva, Anthony (Vicki) Puentes and Jeanette Blow; her dear lifelong friends, Juanita Noriega and Jeannie Azcona; and a host of beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends whose lives were forever touched by her love.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Connie’s remarkable life on Monday, July 13, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Rendina Funeral Home, 5100 Cleveland Street, Gary, Indiana 46408.

Your support means the world to us. In lieu of flowers, if you feel led to, the family kindly requests memorial donations to assist with final expenses. Every expression of love, support, and prayer is a profound blessing to our family during this difficult time.

Although our hearts are broken, we find comfort knowing that Connie’s laughter, love, and unforgettable spirit will remain with us forever. Her memory will be cherished always, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

If Connie could leave us with one last message, it would probably be this: Don’t spend too much time crying over me. Turn up the music, dance a little, love your family fiercely, make some tortillas, and when you think of me… laugh. I’ll be waiting, and I’ll probably still have something to say when we meet again.