Kristin H. Girdaukas
January 25, 1960 -
March 31, 2024
Kristin “Kris” Girdaukas, age 64, passed away in her home on Sunday, March 31,2024, surrounded by her devoted family and friends. Kris was a loving daughter, wife, mother, sister, friend, counselor, and grandma to her beloved grand-dog.
Born in Glen Ellyn, IL on January 25, 1960, to the late Raymond and Dorothy (Young) Hendee, Kris grew up in Park Ridge, IL. She attended elementary schools where her father was Superintendent, Maine South High School, Illinois State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Education as well as Walden University, where she received her Master’s in Counseling.
While she was teaching at Cumberland Elementary School in Des Plaines, IL, she met the of love her life Gerard “Gerry” Girdaukas. They were married on December 21, 1985. Gerry sadly passed away on their 30th wedding anniversary in 2015.
Kris will be dearly missed by her son, Josh; her mother, Dorothy; her sister Kimberly Hendee and her brother Mark Hendee (Dina Lambrecht) as well as countless friends, including Phillip Goodwin and Lisa Emerick. As well as many loving cousins from the Wautoma, WI area.
Kris touched many lives through her years of teaching special education at Cumberland Elementary School, and helping individuals navigate the hurdles of life through her counseling practice, Allied Counseling Services.
Kris was a wonderful cook. Well-known for her world-famous pancetta, Julia Child's beef bourguignon, awesome potato salad, Super Bowl chili, and chocolate chip cheesecake - just to name a few. She also enjoyed taking rides in her 1966 Cadillac Eldorado, most of the time with her grand-dog, Lambeau in the backseat. She and her family traveled extensively throughout the Mediterranean, France, Alaska, and her beloved Disney World. Her most recent travel to Ireland with son Josh was by far one of her favorites.
Above all, she loved and cherished being a wife to Gerry and mother to their sons David, Patrick, and Josh. Along with her father, Raymond Hendee, and her husband, Gerry, Kris was preceded in death by her sons, Patrick and David Girdaukas.
Service Info
Funeral services honoring Kris’s life will be held on Monday, April 8, 2024.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 9091 Prairie Ridge Blvd, Pleasant Prairie, WI.
The Mass may be viewed via livestream on the following link facebook.com/PiaseckiFuneralHome/live/. You do not need Facebook to watch.
Interment will follow in Ascension Cemetery, 1920 Buckley Rd., Libertyville, IL.
A visitation for Kris will be held on Sunday, April 7, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Piasecki Funeral Home and then on Monday, April 8, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass at church. In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances may be sent to St. Lukes Lutheran Church, 205 N. Prospect Ave, Park Ridge, IL 60068, https://www.stlukespr.org/ or to American Cancer Society (Pancreatic Research) https://donate.cancer.org/ or to St. Anne's Catholic Church, 9091 Prairie Ridge Blvd, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 are appreciated by the family.
Posted by:
Cynthia L.As a counsellor, Kris helped me navigate through complicated grief when I lost my mother to dementia. Her kindness and empathy were lifelines during that time. Although we never met in person, she talked to me like a friend during our phone conversations, and I feel like I’ve lost a friend now. I hope it will give her family and friends some peace of mind and consolation to know how much Kris helped me and others who needed guidance or reassurance. She made a difference in this world, and I know she touched many lives beside mine. Godspeed, my friend.
Posted by:
Celeste and Ken GolaszewskiWords cannot express the grief we are feeling for you, Josh, as well as Dorothy, Kim, and Mark. Though absent over the years, please know that we have often thought of your family, and now, sadly, we reconnect through the loss of Kris, your beloved mom, daughter, sister… May you find solace in your grief and comfort through God’s presence in your lives. With love and our humble prayers, Aunt Celeste and Uncle Ken
