Fallen Joliet Soldier To Arrive Home Today; How To Pay Your Respects

JOLIET, IL — A procession will honor fallen SSG Jose Dueñez Jr., the 25-year-old Joliet native killed in a training incident in Lithuania last month, as his body arrives back in his hometown.

Romeoville Mayor John Noak said an aircraft carrying Dueñez's body was expected to land at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lewis/Joliet airport in Romeoville. His family was expected to arrive at the airport around 3:30 p.m.

"Once he is in the hearse, we will process from the airport to Tezak Funeral Home in Joliet escorted by Joliet PD," Noak said. "Anyone that would like to pay their respects can line the route, which will be Renwick to Weber to Rt.30/Plainfield Road to Tezak. If you have one, please hold a flag."

A celebration of life for Dueñez is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Tezak's Home to Celebrate Life, 1211 Plainfield Road in Joliet. Guests are welcome to attend his funeral service at World of Life Church, 1500 Cedarwood Road in Crest Hill, on Friday. There will be a brief gathering from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the church, followed by the service at 11 a.m.

Dueñez joined the U.S. Army in 2017 and served three overseas tours. He is survived by his devoted wife Karen Dueñez (nee Diaz), his beloved son Jose III, his dear mother Leticia, his “partner forever and ever” and father Jose, five heartbroken sisters Lydia, Jessica, Eva, Rebecca, Beatriz and eighteen nieces and nephews.

"The circumstances of Jose’s passing are incredibly challenging for his family, as they would be to any family, and currently are for three other American families," his obituary says. "However, there is some measure of peace that can be taken in the knowledge that Jose was not alone in his final moments. He was surrounded by his brothers-in-arms, who he had committed to protecting as they had committed to protecting him. But that’s not all. He was also with God in that moment, as he always kept God in his heart and his deeds, and he was surrounded by the love of his family. He carried the love for his parents, sisters, wife, and child with him always, and we know that they were first and foremost on his mind."

Related: Funeral Details For Joliet Soldier Jose Duenez Announced By Tezak's