Lynn Ann Galuska Elsen, 68, of Oak Park, beloved wife of Michael; loving mother of Katharine (Patrick) Klette, Michael (Beth) Elsen, and Ian Elsen; grandmother to six grandchildren (Lydia, Wesley, Arabella, Maeve, Theo, and Hugh), passed away peacefully this past Wednesday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, with her family by her side.
Born in Chicago in 1956, Lynn was the third eldest of Raymond and Stella Galuska’s four children: Raymond (Connee) Galuska, Denise (Paul) Rexroat, and Ellen (Robert) Paulson. She grew up in St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Oak Lawn and attended Mount Assisi High School. While completing her nursing degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Lynn met her husband Michael. After their marriage in 1981, they moved to Oak Park, a close suburb of Chicago that was halfway between both of their families and offered a diverse community for the family they planned. Over the next 45 years, Lynn remained actively involved in the Oak Park community. She attended St. Catherine and St. Lucy’s Church weekly, where she was an integral member of the choir. Lynn was also a founding member and trustee for WSSRA (West Suburban Special Recreation Association), an organization in which her son Ian was an enthusiastic participant.
In 1980, Lynn became a high-risk OB nurse at Prentice Hospital and dedicated the next 40 years to caring for and serving women at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. While at Northwestern, she helped found TLC (Together In the Loss of a Child), a grief support group that she led for over 20 years. She ended her career as a Nurse Navigator at the Lynn Sage Breast Center. In 2020, Lynn received the Nora Cooney Mara Compassionate Care Award for her extraordinary level of care. She offered both guidance and friendship to her colleagues and patients, leaving a lasting impact through her compassion and support.
Lynn was the beloved wife and partner to Michael. Together, they cherished a simple and joyful life. They celebrated their wedding anniversaries in Door County, Wisconsin—camping or staying in bed-and-breakfasts and enjoying cherry pie at fish boils. Michael took joy in selecting and planting Lynn’s favorite flowers and trees in their backyard, especially the Saucer Magnolia and Tart Cherry trees. On the dance floor, they were a perfect pair; with Michael spinning her around, it was as if they existed in their own world.
Lynn was a devoted mother who supported her children through every stage of their lives. She chose to work evening shifts while Michael worked days, ensuring their children could spend as much time as possible with both parents. Lynn shared special bonds with each of her children: she visited her son Michael while he was studying abroad in college, attended all of Ian’s Special Olympics events, initiated the process for Ian to join Misericordia and supported Katharine through the births of her children. On Sundays, you would find her in the kitchen making meals for her family and baking sweet treats for her husband. As an avid reader, Lynn would breeze through one book after another. There was always a project on her knitting needles. Michael had to wait until her last days of knitting to have her work on a cherished scarf for him—there was always a baby hat or afghan that needed to be finished first. She enjoyed cheering on the Cubs and the Bears with her sons. Lynn also cherished being a grandmother and loved spending time with her grandchildren. Even as she began to change, her love and support for them never wavered. They, in turn, embraced the activities that brought her comfort, creating new ways to connect and share joy, especially baking some of her favorite cookies at Christmastime and playing together in the backyard.
Lynn cherished all her lifelong friendships and, of course, cherished everything. There was always a reason to cherish something. She was a keeper of all things.
Family and friends will be received at the Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Rd., Westchester on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 from 4:00-8:00pm. All to meet Wednesday at St. Catherine-St. Lucy Church, 38 N. Austin Blvd., Oak Park for a 10:00am funeral mass. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Misericordia Heart of Mercy in Ian Elsen’s name (www.misercordia.com). For funeral info 708-F-U-N-E-R-A-L