Theresa (Tess) M. Zilly, age 89, a resident of Morrison, IL, formerly of Oregon, IL and Villa Park, IL, passed away on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.  She was born August 17, 1935 in Elmhurst, IL to Frederick & Theresa Heft.

Tess was a graduate of York High School and Elmhurst College, taught 3rd grade, and later was a supervisor on the OB/GYN floor of Elmhurst Clinic for many years until she retired. She participated in PTA, was a room mother, and a Brownie leader. She was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Villa Park where she was married and taught Sunday School. She loved swimming in her pool at her home in Villa Park. She enjoyed her gardens at her home in Oregon. She loved her Carlo Rossi wine and her Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass record albums. She enjoyed adventure movies, especially Westerns, and anything Native American Indian.

Not wanting to be called "Grandma", she was known as Busia to all her kids and grandkids whom she dearly loved. Busia crocheted enthusiastically and was always happily giving away her beautiful afghans to anyone having a special event in their life or just because. Her Resthave family were the recipients of many of these lovely gifts. She loved gardening and actively participated in caring for the raised bed gardens at Resthave. She loved visiting Nachusa Grasslands to see the bison (her spirit animal). She loved going on adventures, shopping at Hobby Lobby and enjoying restaurants, especially Culvers and The Double G Saloon (her "headquarters"). She enjoyed collecting gnomes and llamas. She was affectionately known as "Momma Llama". She enjoyed texting and her great sense of humor came through especially with her funny selfies and her flair for using emojis. She had a quick wit and a zest for life which was sprinkled with spontaneous fits of laughter. She was usually the one instigating shenanigans especially with her best Resthave friend, Betty. She made lasting memories with everyone she met. She would always end her texts, phone calls and visits with XOXO Stay Fabulous!  She will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her five children: Elizabeth (the late Dr. Jeffrey) Edwards of Wheaton, IL, Daniel E. (Sandra) Zilly of Winfield, IL, Suzanne (Dennis) Duggan of Fulton, IL, Karen Zilly of Long Beach, CA, Diana Zilly of Lake in the Hills, IL; and her six grandchildren: Darlene Jobin, Zoe (Brendan) Johnson, Kai Zilli (Dakota Wilson), Steven Zilly, Amanda (Jeff) Weisenberger, & Jessica Marshall.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard A. Zilly (2017) and her sister Ruth (the late Vince) Castronovo.

We would like to send many thanks to Resthave Assisted Living for their awesome love, kindness and care they showed Tess and for the many friendships she enjoyed there. She was known at Resthave for her spunk and liveliness as well as being an awesome prayer warrior and an advocate for her peers.

A private interment will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Montgomery, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Nachusa Grasslands through The Nature Conservancy.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.