Theresa M Kotek

Theresa Marie Kotek, 52, of Lisle, passed away on Saturday, October 9, 2021. She was born on June 27, 1969 in St. Louis, MO to Daniel and Catherine (Michuda) Kotek. Family was always the most important thing to Theresa, and she was incredibly close to her siblings. Theresa could spend all day with them and still insist on a phone call later in the day to recap the day's events. She was the family alarm clock, always calling to make sure they were awake and ready for the day. She was also the Santa of the family and made Christmas special each year with gifts personally selected for everyone. She loved going on vacations with her family, and took a lead role in the planning and coordinating of the trips. Cruises were her favorite type of trip. She was so lucky to spend over 20 years of her life with her beloved, Brian Thome. The two were inseparable; she was his rock and his flotation device through all of life’s ups and downs. They were perfect together, best friends and life partners through and through. Through her relationship with Brian, Theresa became a beloved member of the Thome family, being treated like one of the family by all of his siblings. She fit right in with the Thome siblings and was very close to Brian’s father. Theresa also had a very special relationship with her stepson, Nick, and their relationship only grew stronger after the birth of Nick’s daughter, Kendall. Despite not being a mother herself, Theresa was very motherly and nurturing to all the children in her life, including her numerous nieces and nephews, as well as to the beloved dogs she owned throughout the years. Theresa was the definition of selfless, and she constantly put others before herself. She had an unwavering and steadfast work ethic, and could be trusted with any task, personally and professionally. Theresa was someone you could always count on. Theresa will be remembered as being a loving and caring person. She loved big, kept a small circle, and was fiercely loyal. We should all aspire to be people of good character like Theresa. Theresa is survived by her partner of 20+ years, Brian Thome; stepson, Nick (Mary); granddaughter, Kendall; siblings, Susan, Mary, and Jimmy (Sarah); nephews, Danny (Danielle), Steven, Jeffrey (Mikayla), Jonathan, Kyle, Timmy, and Grayson; nieces, Hannah, Gracie, Charlotte, Liz, Amanda, Kelsey, Alicia, Carrie, Adrienne, Natalie, and Kimberly; father-in-law, Raymond; sisters-in-law; Julie (Chris), and Terri (Greg); brothers-in-law, Tim (Barb), Mark (Sandy), Jeff, and Bill (Dianne), and her beloved pet, Sadie. She was preceded in death by her parents. A Celebration of Theresa's Life will be held on Friday, October 15, 2021 at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 5015 Lincoln Ave., Lisle, from 4pm-8pm with a memorial service beginning at 6pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, or to the family to be used as a college fund for Theresa's granddaughter.