KATHLEEN ELLEN (SURDYK) WELLS

Kathleen Ellen “Kathy” (Surdyk) Wells, 78, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 15th, 2024, at home, with loving family by her side.

Born July 29, 1945, in Hammond, Indiana, the daughter of Helen (Rupp) and Mickey Surdyk, Kathy married Richard Randolph “Dick” Wells on July 20, 1968, at Newman Catholic Student Center - Christ the Teacher University Parish in DeKalb. They shared almost 46 wonderful years together.

Kathy was raised in Calumet City where she enjoyed choir, collecting records, sock hops, and visits to the cinema. A highlight of her high school days was taking Latin, and she learned a love of God at St. Andrew Catholic School.

Kathy graduated from Thornton Fractional North High School in 1963, and then moved to DeKalb to attend Northern Illinois University. Her passion for literature helped her achieve a bachelor's degree in English from NIU in 1967.

While at NIU, Kathy met and married Dick Wells of Joliet. Dick and Kathy purchased a home on the south side of DeKalb where they raised three children.

Kathy enjoyed her vocation as a teacher for nearly 30 years: At Sandwich High School from 1967-1970; at Genoa-Kingston High School from 1976-1977 & 1979-1980; and substituting before teaching full time with DeKalb School District 428 at Huntley Middle School from 1991-2011, taking breaks to raise her children. Some highlights included teaching Shakespeare, especially Taming of the Shrew, as well as Memorybooks, and Heroes & Legends projects. She shared her love of theater by directing Drama Club for many years, including productions of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “I Remember Mama,” and “Meet Me in St. Louis.” During these years she touched the lives of countless students (or “her kids,” as she called them) who would grow up and remember her fondly from all walks of life. Days rarely passed without former students sharing experiences of her indelible mark on their lives.

Kathy was a committed crafter, especially quilting, sewing, and other needlework. She was a DeKalb County Quilters Guild member for more than 40 years, and involved with Nite Owls Home Extension. Her life’s catalog included dozens of quilts of all sizes, many as charitable projects, and for loved ones and strangers, alike.

Her status as a cinephile began in her youth, famously seeing “Gone With the Wind” and “The Ten Commandments” in the theater more than two dozen times. She enjoyed television, especially Big Bang Theory, Days of Our Lives, and British TV, but also attended live shows and plays, and had a collection of ticket stubs from comedian, Brian Regan. She was a sucker for change-of-heart stories and loved a good happy ending.

Despite her love of film, Kathy found books a superior medium, and was always reading. She brought books with her everywhere and was a lifelong learner. She often underlined new vocabulary to look up later, and had an extensive personal library. Some favorite authors were Nora Roberts, Preston & Child, and Diana Gabaldon. Kathy recently completed a collection of her own life stories using Storyworth, with enough memories to share for generations.

Kathy wanted to be remembered for her kindness and cooking, liking brain puzzles and word games, and for hating spiders, mean-ness, and mushrooms. She loved flowers, swimming, being warm, and laughing. Kathy was a devout Catholic, a lifelong member of Newman, and entered eternity wearing a Brown Scapular.

Beyond it all, her greatest love was her family, for whom she sacrificed so much and poured out her entire being. She shared her passions with her grandchildren, who were her true joy in life, including sewing projects, theater visits, reading good stories, playing board games like Dixit, or simply spending time together, especially during the holidays. Traditions she established, like raucous birthday celebrations or the importance of holiday gatherings, are her greatest legacy, and will live on in them, and everyone whose lives she touched.

Kathy is survived by her children, Christine, Robyn (Matt), and Geoffrey (Dacia); and six grandchildren, Dominic (14), Gemma (11), Martin (8), Patrick (6), Rosemary (4), and Hildegard (2), all who will dearly miss their beloved “Grammy.” She also is survived by sister, Shirley (Wayne) Stone; brother, Tom (Susan) Surdyk; and a host of well-loved friends and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2014; her parents; and parents-in-law.

Kathy’s family would like to thank the Revs. Robert Gonnella and Sean Grismer of the Newman Center; DeKalb Police and Fire Departments; Dr. Shakeel Ahmad for his years of dedicated and compassionate care; the doctors and staff of Kishwaukee Hospital Northwestern Medicine; Northern Illinois Hospice; the staff of Timber Creek DaVita Dialysis; and all those who offered prayers and comforting words.

Funeral Mass will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, at the Newman Center, 512 Normal Road, DeKalb, with the Rev. Gonnella celebrating. Burial will follow at Fairview Park Cemetery, DeKalb, with reception following burial at Newman.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Anderson Funeral Home, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb.

Memorial contributions can be made in care of Anderson Funeral Home Ltd., 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb IL 60115. Arrangements by Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of KATHLEEN ELLEN (SURDYK) WELLS, please visit our floral store.