Kathleen T. Starzec, 81, a resident of Grayslake, IL, passed away March 4, 2026 at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, IL. She was born April 16, 1944 in Kenton, OH to Anthony and Laura Quinkert.

Kathleen 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 parents, her husband Edwin Starzec, and her niece Mary Crutcher.

Kathleen graduated from Brescia College in 1967 and, after, graduation moved to Chicago, taking a position at the Railroad Retirement Board. It was there she met her future husband and life's love, Edwin J. "Eric" Starzec. They married on February 20, 1968 and their first child, Michael, was born in December of that year. Their daughter, Victoria, was born in 1974.

She was a parishioner at Saint Gilbert for nearly 60 years. There, she was active in the Mother's & Others Club and later the Parish Council. She was also civically engaged serving for decades on both the Grayslake Historical Society and the Grayslake Public Library Board. While on the Library Board. she helped oversee the planning and construction of the current library facility on Library Lane. While on the Historical Society, she co-authored the Grayslake Historical Society's publication of the History of Grayslake.

More than anything, she was a devoted mother and grandmother. With the birth of her grandchildren, she was a fixture in their lives. Whether at home or away, Kathleen was in the stands cheering on Nate and Lily as they competed for Saint Gilbert School & Carmel Catholic Highschool in Cross Country, Basketball as well as Track and Field. The children loved "sleep-overs" at Grandma's farm while Sheridan lived with his grandmother for many years. An avid lover of Euchre, Scrabble and Yahtzee, she exposed all her grandchildren to classic games that they played with her to this day as well as classic movies. And, while she was of small stature and quiet by nature, she was an avid and loud Bears fan and could not be torn away from March Madness.

A visitation is scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026 at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030 from 4:00pm until 8:00pm. The funeral mass is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Sant Gilbert Catholic Church 301 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030 at 10:00am. Interment will be held privately. Memorial donations may be made to the Saint Gilbert Scholarship Fund or to Lake County Right to Life Foundation.

For more information log onto www.strangfuneral.org or contact (847)223-8122.