Heather Alicia Tellez

Our beloved Heather Alicia Tellez died unexpectedly in her home on Sunday, November 19, 2023.  There are no words to describe the heartbreak over this end to her earth journey.

It is impossible to capture a person in an obituary, especially someone whose last few years were largely defined by sorrow and withdrawal.  Heather was always a beacon of family love.  She cast a light on everything around her in a way that was nothing short of spectacular.  She will be missed forever.

Heather was born on February 14, 1985, in Highland Park, IL.  She grew up, went to school, worked, married, and raised her children in Lake County, Illinois.

Heather was born a supermom.  She gave birth to her oldest son, Anthony, when she was 17, and it was just the two of them for many years.  Heather broke the mold for being a young mom, and made it look beautiful.

Heather dedicated her professional life to Wilson Nursery, where she managed the office.  It was here that she met Fred Tellez, her one and only.  They thoroughly enjoyed 12 years together and they showed us what a loving marriage could be like.  The love and joy in their home were unparalleled.

Heather and Fred welcomed countless family members and their children to live in their home.  They poured their hearts into family parties and celebrations.  They got behind causes they believed in.  They were always there to step up when you needed someone.

Heather had an enormous heart for children and a playfulness that was enjoyed by adults and children alike.  Her sense of humor was the best – she was great at pointing out the little things in life that warranted a chuckle.  She was smart, quick-witted, and liked to keep things simple.  She will be with us forever.

The passing of her husband in 2022, from cancer, was an unbearable loss for Heather, one that she never truly came back from. We take comfort in knowing that Heather is free from this grief now but would have given anything to have her experience that freedom in this lifetime.  Our heartache over losing her is infinite.  And now so is she.

Heather is survived by her sons, Anthony and Isaiah; her stepdaughters, Jocelyn and Brianna; her father Cruz Manuel Tapia Jr. (Lisa Tapia) and nephew Jaydin, her mother Joyce Fitch (Dennis Fitch); her sister, Dana Weigelt (Ryan Weigelt) and nephews Theodore and Elliot; her step-brother Robert Schubert and nephew Elijah;  her aunt Jacqueline Moyers and cousin Jason Moyers (Christine Rodbro Moyers); her uncle John Moyers Jr. (Kim Moyers) and cousins Trevor and Tara; her aunts Bonnie, Sherry and Illeana + their partners and children; her uncle Rick Tapia (Zenaida Tapia);  her cousins Francis and Nikki Tapia (Michael Borland) and their girls; her paternal grandmother Belinda Harvey (Tom Harvey); and her maternal grandmother Nelda Moyers.

She is preceded in death by her husband Fred Tellez; her stepbrother Richard Rosson, her paternal grandfather Cruz Manuel Tapia Sr., and her maternal grandfather, John Moyers Sr.

Please join us for a memorial service honoring Heather's life on Sunday, December 3, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at The Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, at 1521 Washington Street in Waukegan, IL.  The funeral home will also host visitation on Monday, December 4, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, after which there will be a procession to the burial site.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Lake County Haven (https://lakecountyhaven.org/get-involved/give-money-donate/), a cause that would be meaningful to Heather.