Victorio Reyes

Victorio Reyes, 63 years old, died peacefully at home surrounded by his beloved family on December 22, 2023--just one day short of his 64th birthday. 

Victorio was born on December 23, 1959 in Cerro Colorado, Jalisco, Mexico to the late Gumercindo Reyes Martinez and Maria Robles Carlos. Victorio was also preceded in death by his siblings Guillermina Reyes, Victoriana Reyes, Anita Reyes, Antonia Reyes, and Enedina Reyes.  

Left to cherish his memory, Victorio is survived by the love of his life, María de el Carmen Mercado Castañeda; his only child, Cassandra Reyes of South Bend, IN; his siblings Luciano Reyes, Magdalena Miramontes, Jose Reyes, and Soledad Reyes and a rather large extended family in both the United States and in Mexico. 

Victorio began his life in Mexico and left his home at the age of 17 to pursue his American Dream in the United States with very little money, no knowledge of the English language, and a 6th grade education. Shortly after coming to the States, Victorio was involved in a car accident which left him as a quadriplegic-incomplete and therefore the inability to walk.  

Despite the mountains he faced in life, Victorio chose to pursue happiness. He began with educating himself following the accident, first acquiring his GED, then his Associates, his Bachelors, and finally his Master’s degree in Social Work in 2009 at the Indiana University of South Bend. It was here that he made many friends who eventually became more like family. 

Following his education, Victorio pursued a career of social work to support the underrepresented world of his Latinè community in South Bend, IN. He also had a personal interest in the rights of persons with different abilities and educating everyone around him. Victorio’s interests, bilingual abilities, and education led him to pursue his final line of work: to serve his community as a Civil Servant at the Social Security Administration in downtown South Bend for nearly 10 years. 

Friends, family, and loved ones are invited to visit and celebrate his life from 9:45am-11:00am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at St. Adalbert Catholic Church, located at 2505 W. Grace St. South Bend, IN 46619.  

Online condolences can be made at sjfh.net. 

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