Loida B. Phelps

Obituary's Biography:

Loida B. Phelps, age 65, of Gurnee, IL, passed away on Monday, December 23, 2019 at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 7, 1954 in the Philippines to the late Alfredo and Florida (nee Castillo) Busa. Loida was married on July 31, 1982 in Chicago and is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, Leonard Phelps; her pride and joy twin sons, Alan Phelps of Chicago and Edward Phelps of Philadelphia; her siblings, Anicia (Sonny) Tulod and Mariano Busa. In addition to her parents, Loida is preceded in death by her beloved son, Lawrence Phelps and cherished brother, Conrado Busa. Aside from being a devoted mother and wife, Loida was hardworking, compassionate and empathetic. Nursing was much more than a career for her, but truly her calling. She genuinely cared for her patients, making them laugh and smile while helping them recover. Loida was always in the kitchen cooking and baking as her children grew up. Whether it was for family and friends, coworkers or her very appreciative neighbors, her famous Filipino dishes and desserts were always sought after. As busy as she was, Loida was dedicated to her faith, prayer group and parish, sharing her passion with others through her voice in the church choir and during celebrations like the annual Simbang Gabi (Advent Mass), a unique Filipino tradition of celebrating nine-day novena of Marian masses to heighten our preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, as well as her patients, family, and anyone she met. While caring for everyone else, Loida never forgot to make time for herself. She loved gardening, enjoyed traveling while keeping in touch with family and friends all over the globe. Loida was a fitness enthusiast and loved to dance, always trying to get others to join her in a group fitness class or lighting up the room with her simple presence, especially during Zumba. Please join us in celebrating her life. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 30, 2019, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Strang Funeral Chapel, 410 E. Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 6401 Gages Lake Rd., Gurnee, IL followed by 10:00 am funeral mass. Burial will be held at Ascension Catholic Cemetery in Libertyville, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in honor of Loida at donate3.cancer.org. For more information, please visit www.strangfuneral.org or call (847) 223-8122.