Lois Kazan
March 04, 1937
-
November 18, 2025
Funeral
Funeral Date and Time:
Friday, November 21, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Funeral Service Information:
Lois Irene Kazan (nee Doniger), beloved wife of Herbert. Loving mother of Mike (Jenny) and Laura (John) Brussel. Cherished grandmother of Tommy, Sarah, Sophia and Grace. Preceded in death by her beloved sister, Syril Ann Goldman.
At around age 2, Lois’ parents Dave and Tillie discovered she had a talent for music when she walked up to the piano and began playing during one of her older sister Syril’s piano lessons. It turned out that Lois had “perfect pitch” (1 in 10,000 have it), and it also turned out that Lois could play virtually any musical instrument, from reed instruments, such as a clarinet, to the massive bass fiddle she lugged around campus in college. Lois’ musical talent followed her to Steinmetz High School (where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1956), University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (where she graduated in 1960 as a recipient of the Bronze Tablet award given to the top 3% of each class) and into a career as a high school music teacher and choir director at Cooley Vocational High School (subject of the 1975 film Cooley High) and Taft High School (the inspiration for the fictional Rydell High School in the musical Grease). Along the way, she married Herb in 1960 and had two kids. Although she stopped teaching when she had her first child in 1969, she was always looking for more work to do – PTA, teaching piano lessons, arts & crafts at school, etc. – and she ended up going back to work as a part-time secretary in 1985. Lois’ ability to master all sorts of administrative tasks soon became clear, and she quickly took over as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Park District, a job she held until she retired in her early 70s. Despite growing up well before the computer age, Lois mastered computers, fax machines, e-mail and all the other modern innovations necessary to keep the Park District running efficiently. After retiring, she and Herb moved to Friendship Village (now Encore Village) in Schaumburg, where she gardened, joined many committees, participated in numerous activities, enjoyed her family, and tried to take it easy and relax. She and Herb also enjoyed traveling to destinations throughout the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Europe, and the Galapagos Islands (her favorite). Lois had a soft spot for animals, especially dogs, who could easily bring a smile to her face. She was a wonderful person who was devoted to her family and will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances to Guide Dogs for the Blind would be appreciated. Graveside services 12:00PM, Friday, November 21 at Westlawn Cemetery, 7801 W Montrose Ave, Norridge. Arrangements entrusted to Lakeshore Jewish Funerals, 773-625-8621.
At around age 2, Lois’ parents Dave and Tillie discovered she had a talent for music when she walked up to the piano and began playing during one of her older sister Syril’s piano lessons. It turned out that Lois had “perfect pitch” (1 in 10,000 have it), and it also turned out that Lois could play virtually any musical instrument, from reed instruments, such as a clarinet, to the massive bass fiddle she lugged around campus in college. Lois’ musical talent followed her to Steinmetz High School (where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1956), University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (where she graduated in 1960 as a recipient of the Bronze Tablet award given to the top 3% of each class) and into a career as a high school music teacher and choir director at Cooley Vocational High School (subject of the 1975 film Cooley High) and Taft High School (the inspiration for the fictional Rydell High School in the musical Grease). Along the way, she married Herb in 1960 and had two kids. Although she stopped teaching when she had her first child in 1969, she was always looking for more work to do – PTA, teaching piano lessons, arts & crafts at school, etc. – and she ended up going back to work as a part-time secretary in 1985. Lois’ ability to master all sorts of administrative tasks soon became clear, and she quickly took over as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Park District, a job she held until she retired in her early 70s. Despite growing up well before the computer age, Lois mastered computers, fax machines, e-mail and all the other modern innovations necessary to keep the Park District running efficiently. After retiring, she and Herb moved to Friendship Village (now Encore Village) in Schaumburg, where she gardened, joined many committees, participated in numerous activities, enjoyed her family, and tried to take it easy and relax. She and Herb also enjoyed traveling to destinations throughout the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Europe, and the Galapagos Islands (her favorite). Lois had a soft spot for animals, especially dogs, who could easily bring a smile to her face. She was a wonderful person who was devoted to her family and will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances to Guide Dogs for the Blind would be appreciated. Graveside services 12:00PM, Friday, November 21 at Westlawn Cemetery, 7801 W Montrose Ave, Norridge. Arrangements entrusted to Lakeshore Jewish Funerals, 773-625-8621.
Funeral Provider:
Lakeshore Jewish Funerals
Clergy:
Rabbi Michael Tillman
Interment:
Rose Section