Emily Kouzios

Emily Louise Kouzios was born on January 23, 2001, at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove, Illinois. She passed away while surrounded by the love of her family on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 6:28 PM, after a relentless two-year battle with a one-of-a-kind, highly mutated Grade 3 PXA brain tumor.

Emily was one of nine children and leaves behind a huge family of devastated loved ones and supporters: Her father, Christopher J. Kouzios (and "Momika" Jessica Kouzios); her mother, Jacqueline T. Beckford; her grandparents, Rich Schmuldt (Arlene, deceased), Karen Klatt (Bill Klatt), and John Kouzios (Martina Kouzios); and her siblings, Nicolas Kouzios (Lea Kouzios), Taylor Hansen (Ryan Hansen), Matthew Kouzios, Ken Kouzios (Blyss Kouzios), Christopher R. Kouzios, Abie Beckford, and River Beckford. She was preceded in death by her brother, Aidan Beckford. She was aunt to one nephew and one niece and had numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and an incredible group of friends who became family.

Emily graduated from Millikin University in May 2023 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music - Vocal Performance with an emphasis in Opera, all while undergoing multiple brain surgeries and continuing treatment. Music was woven into the very fabric of who she was. After graduation, she moved to Springfield, IL, where she was building a life with her partner, Jacob Dresch, and their beloved dog-child, Bruno.

She continued sharing her gift of music, performing with the Springfield Choral Society and the choir at the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, while also working as a substitute teacher at the Hope Learning Academy. She poured herself into everything she did-lifting up those around her, offering kindness and understanding, and never hesitating to fight for what was right.

Emily was an avid lover of nature-if something could be saved, she would find a way. Whether it was nurturing plants back to life, rescuing stray animals, or helping those in need, she was always restoring, rebuilding, and giving of herself.

She was tenacious, driven, intelligent, creative, and, above all else, fiercely loyal. Emily was one of those rare people who made the world better simply by being in it-and at a time when the world desperately needs more people like her, her absence is a void that can never be filled.

Yet, we are all better for having had the privilege of being part of her life, no matter how brief.

Emily, we will love you forever. May you rest in peace.

Emily's ongoing commitment to eradicating this abhorrent tumor will continue. She chose to make one final selfless sacrifice, allowing Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine to research how this tumor became the monster that it was. If you'd like to support this research, please visit: Northwestern Medicine Brain Tumor Research Fund (https://giving.nu/kouzios) and donate in memory of Emily.