Gabriela Puentes, a Treatment and Insurance Coordinator at Bubon Orthodontics known for her warmth and professionalism, died on August 21, 2026, in Chicago. She was 43.
Ms. Puentes was born on September 26, 1982, in Chicago and lived there her entire life. She was the daughter of Maria C. Diaz De Puentes and the late Jose De Jesus Puentes Avalos.
She worked at Bubon Orthodontics, where colleagues remembered her as a trusted presence who helped patients navigate important moments with care and confidence.
Ms. Puentes was a woman of varied interests. She enjoyed reading, watching movies, painting, and listening to music. She was a practicing Catholic whose faith shaped her approach to life and her treatment of others.
“She had a gift for making others feel seen, valued, and encouraged,” her family said in a statement. “She moved through life with love in her heart, faith in her spirit, and purpose in her steps.”
She is survived by her mother, Maria C. Diaz De Puentes; her sons, Damien Ponce and Jason Ponce; her brothers, Pedro Puentes and Alex Puentes; and her brother Jose Puentes. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Laura Villegas del Real and Carolyn Arias-Puentes, and her nephew Jose Puentes.
Visitation: Thursday, August 27, 2026, 3 to 8 p.m. at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice, Illinois.
Funeral Mass: Friday, August 28, 2026, 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Snows Church, 4810 S. Leamington Avenue, Chicago. Prayers and procession begin at 8:45 a.m. from the funeral home.
Interment: Resurrection Cemetery, Justice, Illinois.