Maureen "Moe" Zurek

1966 - 2025

Maureen "Moe" Zurek
Born: November 25, 1966 in Chicago, IL
Died: July 14, 2025 in Crystal Lake, IL
Maureen L. Zurek was born on November 25, 1966 in Chicago to Robert McDonald and Nina Pilon. She passed peacefully on Monday, July 14 th surrounded by the love of her family and friends, after a courageous four-year battle with Glioblastoma Brain Cancer.
Maureen grew up in Crystal Lake and graduated from Crystal Lake South High School. She was a devoted wife to Larry Zurek, a proud, loving mother to her daughters Kelsey and Kortney Zurek, and Kyra Brim. She was a caring daughter and sister, a cherished grandma and great grandma, a special auntie, and a beloved friend to many.
Throughout her life, Maureen brought kindness, creativity and warmth into every space she entered. She worked at a law office for many years in her younger days, she was an adored preschool teacher at Little Journey Preschool and Purple Moose Enrichment Preschool - where her gentle spirit and patience shined through, as she was always amazing with children, and she was a florist at Apple Creek Flowers in Woodstock. She picked up shifts as a caterer, and bartended at Bret's and Coleman's – where she met the love of her life, Larry, and on September 28, 1996 they were married. In true "Moe" fashion, she lit up every room with her golden smile, welcoming heart, and a knack for making everyone feel like they belonged.
Her greatest happiness came from being surrounded by the people she loved. She was the heart and soul of her family, and the one who made holidays brighter, dinners warmer, and every get-together feel like home. She found joy in life's simple pleasures – spending time with family and friends, listening to country music and Jimmy Buffet, relaxing on the Florida beaches, visiting the North Woods of Wisconsin, and curling up at home with her beloved 17-year old Maltese, Gordon. She was the most selfless person, even during her battle she never complained and always put others before herself. She leaves behind a beautiful circle of friends who became family – each one touched by her generous heart, her warmth and her magnetic spirit. Moe was always ready with a cocktail, a warm hug, plenty of food, and an open seat at every table. Her ability to make everyone feel welcome was a true superpower, and her light will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Moe will be forever loved by her husband, Larry Zurek; her daughters, Kelsey and Kortney Zurek, and Kyra Brim; mother, Nina Pilon; sisters, Gail McDonald, and Brenda (Kevin) Kamerer; brother Todd (Julia) McDonald; sister-in-law, Lynn (Donald) Monsen; nieces and nephews, Jamie (Eric) Steere, Shelby DiFiore, Tyler (Amy) Monsen, Lauren Monsen, Bridget (Austin) Monsen-Nirva, grandchildren, Hailey Loranca and Jace Younge; her great-granddaughter, Nina Grace Kuwamoto; and her many friends.
Maureen was preceded in death by her father Robert McDonald; her step-father, Daniel "Lee" Pilon; her sister, Megan McDonald; her nephew, Max McDonald; and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Jack and Darlene Zurek.
Visitation will be held at Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory in Crystal Lake, on Friday, July 25, from 4 pm until the time of a service at 7pm. Burial will be held on Saturday, July 26, at Windridge Memorial Park, Cary. Please meet at the funeral home parking lot at 10:30am to be included in the procession to the cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at Niko's Red Mill Tavern, Woodstock, following the burial at 2 pm.
In addition to flowers, donations in Moe's name can be made to the Woodstock Northwestern Inpatient Rehabilitation Department Woodstock Hospital or MalnatiBrain Tumor Institute.
Please visit www.davenportfamily.com to leave an online condolence and for direct links to give to the memorial sites.