Celebration Of Life Set For Elwood Man, Owner Of New Lenox Dollar Stop Party Store Killed In Crash

NEW LENOX, IL — A celebration of life has been set for an Elwood man killed in a head-on crash Dec. 18 in Elwood.

Joshua Villalobos, 35, died following the crash on Manhattan Road. Villalobos was known in the New Lenox community as the owner of Dollar Stop Party, 426 Nelson Road. Villalobos is survived by his wife Ehrin and daughter Rory, 5, as well as parents Martin and Denise Villalobos, and siblings Chrystal (Jeff) Zaremba, Samantha Villalobos and Jimmy (Nicole) Villalobos. His full obituary can be viewed online.

"As many of you know, our family has experienced a profound loss," the family shared on the store's social media Tuesday. "In order to take time to grieve and be present with our daughter, the store will remain closed through Monday, January 12."

A Celebration of Life for Villalobos is planned for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at 20720 Hunt Club Drive, in Frankfort.

The family said the store will reopen with shortened hours for the remainder of January, due both to the tragedy and the store's typical winter schedule. Updated hours will be shared on the store's Facebook page.

The Elwood, Manhattan and New Lenox communities have rallied around Ehrin Villalobos and daughter Rory. Ehrin is known as the Fire and Life Safety Educator for the Elwood Fire Protection District, a role in which she is "always putting others first and working tirelessly to keep us safe and informed.

"Her compassion and commitment have touched so many lives, and now, in this time of heartbreak, we have the opportunity to give back to her and her family," a friend wrote in an online fundraiser for Ehrin and Rory. The GoFundMe has raised $36,000 to-date.

"We are incredibly grateful for the generosity, kindness, and condolences shown to our family and our business," the family wrote. "The support through GoFundMe donations, the Meal Train, messages, and visits has helped carry us through an overwhelming time, and we are deeply thankful to everyone who has reached out in any way.

"Thank you for your patience, compassion, and continued support of our small, family-owned business. This community means more to us than we can adequately express, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon."