Kim Thi Elliott

Kim Thi Elliott, 81, passed away October 4, 2025, of natural causes at SSM Health DePaul Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. She was born on June 6, 1944, in Saigon, Vietnam. Kim was the eldest of 11 kids. She met her future husband, Gary Elliott, while he was enlisted in the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict. They got married on October 14, 1972, and moved to Carterville, IL. They then settled and raised their children in Mt. Vernon, IL.
Kim was preceded in death by her husband, Gary, her parents Nguyen Thi Dat and Mai Van Truc, sisters Nguyen Thi Dat, Nguyen Thi Lam UT, and brother Nguyen Van Trung, in laws, Carl, Maxine, and Mike Elliott, and Brenda Weedman, mother-in-law, Alma Smith and father-in-law, Carl Elliott.
She is survived by many family members including her four children: Nga (Tuan) Nguyen, Lyna Benson, Jackie (Jim) Jones, and son Carl. She had many grandchildren Julie and Danny Nguyen, Seth and Ali Benson, Ella and Lucy Kroeschen, and McKayla, Braden, and Tyler Jones. Kim is also survived by her sisters Nguyen This Ngoc Mai, Nguyen Thi Bong (Nguyen Van Hiem), Nguyen Thi Huoing (Tran Van Sang), Nguyen Thi Tuoi (Lechi Duc), Nguyen Thi Hue (Trinh Than Son), brothers Nguyen Van Danh (Tran Thi Ut) and Nguyen Van Hoang (Huyen Ngoc Tang). Her nieces that are included are Phuong Son (Kinh Kha), Nguyen Minh (David Tran), Nguyen Hoang Chua, Tran Xuan Tien, Tran Hue Khanh, and Tam Trinh. Kim is also survived by nephews: Nguyen Van Dung, Jim and Joe Nguyen, Nguyen Andy, Nam Trinh, Nguyen Liam and Chad and Jenney Weedman. Kim had many great nieces and nephews too: Kate, Allan, Anna, and Julia Le, and Mia and Dylan Tran. Kim is also survived by her former son-in-law, Rob Kroeschen.
Kim worked as a cook in many local restaurants and also NAL. Before retiring she worked with her best friend Thu's at Kim's Restaurant in Salem, IL. She enjoyed being outdoors and loved fishing and gardening. Kim and Gary were passionate about camping and boating together. They would often spend time at the lake with Uncle Jackie and Aunt Sue. Kim was blessed to be able to go back to her homeland numerous times throughout her lifetime.
Everyone will always remember her as being a spicy, Vietnamese firecracker. She never met a stranger and always had the best stories that made everyone laugh. A great joy in her life was to cook for her friends and family. She was known best for her home-made egg rolls, which were a pure treasure.
One of her biggest and greatest accomplishments was bringing many family members to live in the USA so they could have better opportunities and live the American dream. She was proud of all her family and spoke of them often admiring what they had achieved. Kim was a devoted daughter, sister, husband, mother, grandmother, aunt, and great aunt. She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her.
A Visitation will be held Thursday, October 9, 2025 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. A Funeral Service will begin at 6:00 pm. Private family interment will take place Maple Hill Cemetery in Fairfield, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Kim's honor to Van Hanh Monastery.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.