Monica Nemecek

Monica Nemecek, 58, died at her home in Elmhurst, IL on February 22, 2026 after an extended battle with cancer. Monica was born on November 29th, 1967 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to her parents Lee and Joann Nemecek. She leaves behind her brother Mark Nemecek, sister-in-law Jenn, niece Alexis, son Christian, and foster daughter Kaitlyn, as well as many dear friends who are her extended family.

Monica grew up in the Kalamazoo area, attending Otsego Schools, and graduated from Otsego High School, where she met friends that she kept for the rest of her life. After graduating, she attended and graduated from Western Michigan University, with a Bachelors of Science in Aeronautical Engineering.

Monica had a long and successful career with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, starting with several years in Seattle. She first worked in passenger safety, then transferred to Brussels, Belgium as an FAA representative to the European Aviation Safety Agency, tasked with harmonizing aviation between world regions. She eventually worked up to the position of program manager of continued operational safety, which meant she helped resolve ongoing safety issues with airplane design. The years just prior to her retirement, she was the manager of the Airframe Section making sure aircraft structures stay safe. She made the world a safer place for all of us through her dedication to airplane safety throughout her career. While in Belgium, she enjoyed traveling throughout Europe and visiting countries that interested her, absorbing cultures and ultimately discovering her love of the French language.

Never one to stop growing and learning, instead of returning to Seattle when her stay was over, she took a position in the Washington D.C. area working under the FAA Director and continuing to travel around the world to even more new and exciting places. As her father got older, Monica wanted to move closer to him and to home, which brought her the Chicago area and ultimately to Elmhurst. While she didn’t necessarily make friends quickly, her friendships tended to be lifelong, and many people in her community soon learned that she was always up for a new challenge or adventure, and she forged many very strong friendships.

In her many travels, her love of reading, music, and theater could be seen in the home library she assembled for herself, her well-loved Polish pottery, CDs tucked neatly in every available space, and movies and mementos from past travels and experiences. She opened her home and heart to both foster children and needy dogs giving all a better life in doing so. All who knew her were better for it and she will be sadly missed.

Visitation in Illinois will be held Saturday, March 14, from 12 PM – 2 PM at Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 South York Road, (½ mile North of Saint Charles Road), Elmhurst, Illinois. A Funeral Service will begin at 2 PM.

Visitation in Michigan will be held Sunday, March 29, from 12 PM – 3 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, Michigan, where food, drinks, and stories will be shared.

Celebrate Monica’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com.