Elizabeth A. Olejcak

Obituary's Biography:

Elizabeth Ann Olejcak, age 85, a resident of Gurnee, passed away on September 17, 2024 at her home. She was born on April 15, 1939 in Chicago to Gustaf and Estelle Jacobson.

Born Elizabeth Ann Jacobson, she was often referred to as “Boots” in her early years and went by “Betty” later in life. Betty grew up in Illinois on the south side of Chicago.  Her mother traveled playing the organ and Betty found herself attending boarding school at a young age.  As a freshman, she lived with a sponsor family and attended school in Buena Vista, Colorado and would eventually find her way back to Colorado later in life. She returned to Chicago and graduated from Kelly High School.

Betty modeled after high school and started a job at The University of Illinois Hospital-Chicago where she met the love of her life, Ray Olejcak.  They were engaged 1 month later, married 4 months after that and enjoyed 37 years of marriage.  Betty’s goal in life was to raise her family with the stability and confidence that she never felt she had growing up. They settled down in Wildwood, Illinois, where she would live for over 40 years and where they raised their 2 daughters. In 2012, she moved to Colorado Springs, so that she could be a daily presence in her younger grandson’s, Cole and Luke’s lives.  She remained there until 2023 where she then moved back to Illinois to receive care.

Betty worked for many years at Volkswagen, was a Distribution Manager for Subaru Mid-America, and ultimately retired from a wonderful career at Abbott Laboratories in the Hospital Products Division.  

Betty was a fiercely independent and loving person and referred to by many as their second mom because she had an open door to all that needed her. She was a lifetime crocheter, unicycle rider, world traveler and spent her later years becoming an expert quilter. She was an avid baseball, basketball and football fan both professional and collegiate.  You could always find a sports game on her TV especially if it was the Bears, Chicago White Sox or Notre Dame.  She especially loved March Madness and watching the College World Series. Others would know Betty as the “Cookie Mom”, as she loved baking cookies for everyone she knew and always had a full cookie jar for visitors.  Most importantly, Betty NEVER missed attending an event that supported her kids, grandkids or the extended family she loved.

Betty is survived by her daughters, Betty-Rae (Dan) Ratzke of Round Lake Beach, and Heather (Joe) Spurlock of Colorado; her grandchildren, Dan Jr. (Sherri), Chris, Cole, and Luke; her 7 great grandchildren; her 2 great-great grandchildren; her many nieces and nephews; and her sister, Louise Olberding of Iowa.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her granddaughter, Dawn, and her parents.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Gilbert Catholic Church, 301 E Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030 on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 11am.  A visitation will be held at church on Saturday from 10am until the time of Mass. Interment will be held at Ascension Catholic Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel, 410 E Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030.  For more information, please call (847)223-8122 or visit www.StrangFuneral.org.