Kathleen T. Starzec

Kathleen T. Starzec, 81, of Grayslake, Illinois, passed away on March 4, 2026 at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. Born on April 16, 1944 in Kenton, Ohio to Anthony and Laura Quinkert, she lived a life marked by quiet strength, deep devotion to family, and steadfast community service.

After graduating from Brescia College in 1967, Kathleen moved to Chicago where she worked at the Railroad Retirement Board. There she met the love of her life, Edwin J. “Eric” Starzec. They married on February 20, 1968, and welcomed their son Michael later that year, followed by their daughter Victoria in 1974. Together they built a warm and loving home that remained the center of Kathleen’s world.

A longtime parishioner of Saint Gilbert Catholic Church for nearly sixty years, Kathleen served actively in the Mother’s & Others Club and on the Parish Council. She also contributed generously to her community through decades of service on the Grayslake Historical Society and the Grayslake Public Library Board. While on the Library Board she helped guide the planning and construction of the current facility on Library Lane, and with the Historical Society she co-authored the organization’s History of Grayslake.

Above all, Kathleen was a devoted mother and grandmother. She was a constant, loving presence in the lives of her grandchildren Nate, Lily, and Sheridan, cheering loudly from the stands at their cross country, basketball, and track and field events at Saint Gilbert School and Carmel Catholic High School. She cherished sleepovers at her farm, shared her love of classic games such as Euchre, Scrabble, and Yahtzee, and introduced them to timeless movies. Though small in stature and gentle by nature, she was an enthusiastic Chicago Bears fan and could not be pulled away from March Madness. She is survived by her children Michael (Evelyn) Starzec and Victoria (Christopher Van Mieghem) Duren, her grandchildren Nate Starzec, Lily Starzec, and Sheridan Duren, and her siblings Rosemari Mitchell and Kent (Bea) Quinkert. She was preceded in death by her husband Edwin, her parents, and her niece Mary Crutcher.