Kristen Marie (Weiss) Thomas, age 59, passed away peacefully at her home in Oswego, on May 8, 2023. She fought a courageous battle with strength, dignity, and quiet grace.

Kristen was born in Aurora, Illinois to Leon and Jeane Weiss on October 7, 1963. She attended Holy Angels Catholic School and Rosary High School before attending Northern Illinois University, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and went on to earn her Paralegal certificate with Honors from Roosevelt University. Kristen joined the Chicago law firm of Coghlan, Joyce, Kukankos, Keleher, & Urbut in October 1985, where she was a trusted and valued paralegal and office manager until 2016. Kristen then joined The Scion Group as a paralegal in 2018. Kristen's work life was only a small part of her story.

Her real love was for her family and friends. Kristen met her sweetheart and future husband, Ron, while they both attended NIU. They were married on June 11, 1988, and eventually established their home in Oswego, a warm and welcoming place of so many family holidays, celebrations, and outdoor barbecues. Kristen had a knack for making things beautiful and special. Kristen's dream was to become a mother. That dream was realized in 2005, when she and Ron traveled to China to adopt their daughter, Emily. Then, in 2010, they were able to happily complete their family when they again traveled to China to adopt young Evan. Above everything, Kristen loved being their mother and cherished every memory with them. She loved attending their many activities and was so proud of their accomplishments in their young lives. To know Kristen was to be a friend of Kristen's. In meeting her, her genuine kindness, care, and compassion for others was instantly present in her warm smile, soulful eyes, and sly sense of humor.

There are almost too many friendships to list: her cherished childhood friends whom she remained in touch with until her passing, long-standing friends from NIU, work colleagues who became close friends, her Chicago "train gang", those who were part of her China adoption groups, parents she met through their children's activities, neighborhood friends, and so many others who have been blessed to know her along the way.

Kristen was preceded in death by her beloved father, paternal grandparents, paternal uncle, maternal grandparents, maternal great-aunt, and father-in-law.

Kristen is survived by her loving and devoted husband of almost 35 years, Ronald Thomas and her children, Emily and Evan Thomas of Oswego, IL; mother, Jeane (Konopasek) Weiss of Aurora, IL; brother, Mark Weiss of Greendale, WI; sister, Mary (Gary) Guzzardo of Palatine, IL; sister, Rachel Weiss of Aurora, IL; mother-in-law, Josephine Thomas of Oswego, IL; brother-in-law, Jeff (Cherie) Thomas of Oswego, IL; sister-in-law, Cheryl (John) Stube of Chicago, IL; nieces and nephews: Michael (Cora) Weiss of Madison, WI; Sara Weiss of Greendale, WI; Kara Weiss of Aurora, IL; Joey Guzzardo of Palatine, IL; and John Stube III of Chicago, IL.

She was a treasure and a gift to her family, and she will be missed every day.

Kristen's family would like to give special thanks and gratitude to her doctor and nurses at the Rush Copley Cancer Center, and those at the Waterford Place Cancer Resource Center, who were always so positive, helpful, and encouraging to Kristen.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation at Dunn Family Funeral Home with Crematory, 1801 S. Douglas Rd, Oswego, Illinois on Tuesday May 16, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church, 551 Boulder Hill Pass, Oswego, Illinois, on Wednesday, May 17,2023 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Risen Lord Catholic Cemetery.

Donations can be made in Kristen's memory to OCRA (Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance) or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

For Information, 630-554-3888 or www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.com