Karen Lynn Strenge

Karen Lynn Strenge, resident of Alsip, IL, passed away on February 14, 2026 at the age of 77. She was born on February 16, 1948, in Oak Park, IL. She is survived by her loving husband, Kenneth Joseph Strenge, her children, Stefanie (Brian) Croix), K. Brandon Strenge, Derik (Kelly) Strenge, and Vanessa (Christopher) Beavers, and her grandchildren, Brian, Brooke, Madeline, Henry, Eleanor, and Lorelai, her brother, Robert Lawrence Lyerla. She is preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Geraldine Marie Lyerla

For Karen, baking and crafting weren’t just hobbies. They were how she cared for people. They were how she celebrated, how she comforted, how she encouraged the people she loved. You may have opened your mailbox to find a handmade card, thoughtfully designed and filled with a loving message. Or perhaps you’ve wrapped yourself in one of her crocheted blankets, each stitching a quiet reminder that you mattered deeply to her.

Beyond her home, Karen devoted more than 25 years of her life to serving students at Hazelgreen School. With patience, dedication, and a steady belief in every child’s potential, she helped countless students learn to read and type—skills that opened doors and built confidence in the students she taught.

Karen’s legacy lives on in the recipes passed down, the blankets draped over couches and cribs, the saved cards tucked into memory boxes, and in the minds of students who learned because she took the time to teach them. She will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and forever cherished.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

A Memorial Visitation will be held at Chapel Hill Gardens South Funeral Home, located at 11333 South Central Ave, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, on February 26, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.