Marylou De Lourdes Atilano Galvan

Marylou De Lourdes Atilano Galván

November 25, 1960 – July 21, 2025

There are some lives that radiate warmth even when the one living them cannot always feel it. Marylou De Lourdes Atilano Galván lived such a life. In her 64 years, she was a mother, sister, grandmother, daughter, friend, neighbor, and a profoundly human soul who loved big, loved fully, and loved even through her own struggles. Her time with us ended too soon, yet her legacy continues to shine brightly in the hearts of all who knew her.

Born in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Marylou carried the strength, humor, and resilience of her roots throughout her journey. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cuauhtémoc University Campus Guadalajara, an achievement she cherished. After immigrating to the United States, she worked for the Milwaukee government, serving families with dedication and care. She later found her calling as a tax preparer, becoming known for her honesty, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her clients. She earned awards and advanced certifications with H&R Block, but the recognition she valued most was the trust people placed in her. She loved her clients deeply, and they loved her right back.

She was the proud mother of Christopher Atilano Galvan and Gracie Bernal, and the loving mama to her chihuahuas Chiko and Chiko the Second, whom she adored even in the short time she had with them. She was a grandmother whose heart belonged entirely to her grandson, Octavius. To many in her neighborhood, she was a second mother, offering warmth, humor, and comfort to anyone who needed it.

Marylou was gifted in many ways. She loved art, especially drawing eyes, because she believed they revealed the soul. Her sketches held emotion and honesty. She also loved numbers, order, and the peace that came from helping someone feel secure. Her kitchen was a place of magic. She was the queen of tamales and pozole, and her Mexican Budin de Pan was a dessert that carried love in every slice. She adored movies, especially The Nutty Professor, her telenovelas, and she brought a lasting fascination for Arabic culture, always eager to learn something new.

As a mother, she gave endlessly: love, gifts, reassurance, humor, and light. She was playful and protective, soft and strong, and always uniquely herself. One unforgettable memory was the Halloween she dressed up to compete in a children’s costume contest, chasing laughter and joy in the most unexpected way. She found beauty in small moments, even when life felt heavy.

Her inner circle included her brother Chuy Atilano, her sister-in-law Malena Machorro, and her lifelong best friend Ana Tolentino. They supported her with loyalty, affection, and honesty. They stood by her with the kind of love that lasts through every season.

Marylou was strong, but she was also human. She faced struggles she didn’t always know how to navigate, and there were moments when the darkness felt heavier than she could lift. Even then, she gave love with a purity that was unmistakable. She effortlessly supported others, even when she struggled to support herself. When she couldn’t see her own light, her son, her daughter, and everyone who knew her saw it clearly. They wanted her to shine the brightest because she carried something rare, something warm, something deeply beautiful.

Despite her challenges, she held profound wisdom. A truth she lived by was: 

“You are the owner and the master of your silence rather than a slave to your words.”

It reflected her dignity, her introspection, and her belief in speaking with purpose and heart.

Her joys were simple but powerful: sunflowers, butterflies, chihuahuas, peaceful nights under the stars, and blasting techno music on long drives in her gold Chevrolet. She lived loudly, laughed fully, and loved others into feeling at home.

Most of all, she will be remembered for her laugh, her comforting voice, and the love she poured into everyone around her. Those pieces of her will echo for generations.

Marylou was a mother who loved beyond measure, a friend who showed up even in her hardest moments, and a woman whose warmth and dancing spirit made the world gentler. She was visible. She was vibrant. She was human in all the beautiful ways that matter.

And now she walks beside Christopher, Gracie, Octavius, Chiko, and Chiko the Second, guiding them with the peace, freedom, and light she always deserved.

She will be deeply missed and forever celebrated.