Kimberly Piedra Ilg

Kimberly Anne Piedra Ilg of Cary, NC and Chatham, Massachusetts passed away at the age of 75 on December 31st, 2023. Kimberly was born on April 14th, 1948 in Joliet, Illinois to the late Ruth “Peg” and Elmer “Bud” Shelvock. Her loyal sister, Kay Bigelow, joined her party seven years later. A proud Steelman of Joliet Central High School, Kimberly joined choir, drama, and any other events where friends would be found. She enjoyed growing up in the Luther League at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and spending time with her large family, her best friend Cookie, and her many cousins who she loved fiercely.

Kimberly spent several years as the Secretary of Catering for the Pick Congress Hotel in downtown Chicago, Illinois where she planned and hosted large events and met Amaury “Pepe” Piedra, her husband of twenty-two years. During their marriage they raised six children together and enjoyed hosting parties and dinners for friends during where Kimberly showcased her passion for creating and serving heartwarming meals as an enthusiastic gourmet. Kimberly and Pepe spent their years together traveling the world when the opportunities arose and raised their family with a global footprint, to include England and the United States from coast to coast, until Pepe’s untimely passing in 1997.

In 2001, Kimberly was remarried to John “Jack” Ilg, the brilliant, patriotic and curious patriarch to so many. The two met while both grieving their spouses and lovingly cared for each other for twenty-one incredible years until Jack’s passing in March of this year. Together, they enjoyed watching their grandchildren grow up, traveling, and spending time with friends on the Cape.

Kimberly was preceded in death by her loving husbands, her parents, and her loyal in-laws, Benito and Olga Iturralde. She is survived by her beloved sister, Kay; her sister-in-law Mary; her children and step children Amaury (Mary-Jane), Alejandro (Irene), Katerina (Shaun), Gabriella (Kevin), Andy (Rachel), Amanda (Rick), Jonathan, Melissa (David) and Meredith. Kimberly adored her many grandchildren who will miss her cooking, her stories, her support, her fun voicemails and, of course, her unwavering love for them all.

Those who know Kimberly will remember her whenever they enjoy a proper cup of tea, read or watch a cozy mystery, gaze upon a figurine collection, hear or sing folk music, enjoy a spa treatment, wander through an antique store or stumble on a historic home, see just about anything to do with the British royal family, find an immaculately done cross-stitch or needlepoint, watch a musical, hear the jingle of bracelets, see a red Cadillac, host a family at Thanksgiving, laugh while watching talking animal videos, cry while watching Hallmark movies, smile when listening to Frankie Valli, get goose bumps during the final scene of Dirty Dancing, or enjoy a perfect bite of comforting mashed potatoes and gravy. Kimberly strove to make every room she was in prettier and everyone within it as comfortable as can be, and she excelled!

Our mother showered people with love in a variety of ways, each of them unique. To those few who may have fallen out of touch with Kimberly or to those who may feel as if they missed a chance to say goodbye due to her sudden passing, she expressed her love to you all in her final hours. Kimberly’s love was unconditional. It still is. It will always be.

The family is incredibly grateful to the caring nursing team at the WakeMed Cary’s Intensive Care Unit who made her final days peaceful, especially Rebekah, Jackie, Tiffany, and Michel. Kimberly had a special place in her heart for the work of historic preservationists and the stories they told. In lieu of flowers she would love donations to be made to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

A service will be held on Sunday, January 7th, 2pm, at Apex United Methodist Church.