Elizabeth Anne (Ostap) Teetsov

Elizabeth Teetsov entered Heaven on April 10, 2023. Elizabeth was born on July 10, 1965 in Oak Park, Illinois, the oldest of five children to Eugene and Melinda (Wellbank) Ostap, her beloved parents. She grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois where she created joy-filled childhood memories with her siblings and cousins.

In the seventh grade, Elizabeth moved with her family to Crystal Lake, the community where her Mema and Papa had a summer home on the waters of North Shore Drive.  Elizabeth’s home in downtown Crystal Lake is where she met Allan, her next door neighbor, future husband, and lifelong best friend. During their 36 years of marriage, they created a foundation of love for their close-knit family and built a beautiful life together in Crystal Lake. The only place she cherished more than Crystal Lake was Door County, Wisconsin, where spectacular family vacations took place year after year.

Elizabeth made everything exponentially better, more fun, and more meaningful. To know Elizabeth was to love her, and those who knew her wanted to spend time with her any chance they could. She moved through life with the utmost grace, beauty, and care, and her children could not be more proud to have her as their mother. Elizabeth empowered her kids and grandkids to be exactly who they were meant to be, and she supported them each and every day alongside Allan. There are no more perfect parents or grandparents. She always found the right words to say in times of both joy and heartache, she filled the room with laughter, and she made sure her family knew with confidence how much she loved them. Her husband, her children, and their families have no doubt that she will continue to do this for them while she is in Heaven.

Elizabeth was completely devoted to her vocation of advocating for those with learning differences and special needs. She was fueled to do this work through completion of her undergraduate education at Eastern Illinois University and her Masters degree in Special Education at Northern Illinois University. She most recently worked as a Academic Support Coach at McHenry County College alongside a wonderful team and driven students. Prior to MCC, she worked for years as a Special Education Teacher at Nerge Elementary School in Roselle and as a Special Education Paraprofessional at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake. She loved her students with an unmatched commitment, and she knew she was blessed to work with coworkers called friends in all of these roles. Elizabeth was also a tireless volunteer, giving generously of her time to the ESL program at MCC, NISRA, the Crystal Lake Food Pantry, and St. Thomas the Apostle School and Church.

Elizabeth is survived by her dear husband of 36 years, Allan Teetsov; her parents, Eugene and Melinda Ostap; her daughters, Natasha (Matthew Lorenzo) Teetsov, Christina (Henry) Etchberger, Katie (Bobby) Krug, and her son Nicholas (Dania Din) Teetsov; her grandchildren, Jacob and Grace Lorenzo, David and Benjamin Etchberger, and Isla Krug; and her siblings, Michael (Connie) Ostap, Suzie (Gary) Bogers, Mark Ostap, and Anna (Randy Walker) Ostap.

All are welcome to attend the funeral Mass held on Friday, April 21st at 10AM with a luncheon to follow at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Interment services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to NISRA (Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association), 285 Memorial Dr. Crystal Lake IL 60014.