Kay Lynn (McDonald) Starin was born on March 4, 1939.She was the fourth of five children born to Stanley and Helen McDonald in Elgin. Kay died peacefully on March 31, 2021, with her family close by her side. She lived for many years with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was able to maintain an active social life until this last year due to Covid-19. She is survived by her longtime Life Partner, Larry Powers; her sister Karen (McDonald) Cummings; her daughters Amy Starin (Ann Schreiner), Beth Papke (Ross) and Jill Joerns (Mike). She also has two cherished grandchildren, Benjamin and Amanda Papke. She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers (Stanley and John) and her sister (Meralou Flood).

Kay was an athlete throughout her life; first as a varsity cheerleader in high school (Elgin High Class of 1957), then as a life-guard, a softball player, bowler and golfer. She maintained her exceptional putting skills through the last years of her life. Kay and Larry were great country western dancers. She loved playing card and dice games with her friends and family and continued to win more than her fair share of both. She loved her work as a swim instructor, delighting in teaching both children and adults the joy of swimming. She also worked as a bank teller, a customer service representative, and her favorite work position in the back office at Gromer’s Grocery Store in Elgin.

She loved to travel, and spent time with her family in New York, Paris, Australia and New Zealand. Kay and Larry explored the Caribbean from end to end, as well as the South and West US, before settling into spending winters in Naples Florida.

She enjoyed many long, loyal and loving friendships that went back to her days in kindergarten in the Elgin Schools. She was a member of ‘Club’ an exceptional group of women whose friendship has spanned more than 60 years. She was a member of Bunco and Red Hats and had an impressive wardrobe of red and purple. Her friends stayed close by her side through her journey with Alzheimer’s. Her family is so grateful for her special friends Shar, Kitty, Mug, Sally, Joyce, Carolyn, Carol, Hildy and Nancy.

She received excellent care through the Alzheimer’s Center at Rush University and from the compassionate staff at White Oaks Memory Care on Spring Street.

A celebration of her life will be held in May. The family would like to reach people who would like to be included in the celebration. Please contact Amy (astarin@sbcglobal.net) for more information.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to support the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center. Please send memorial gifts to the Rush Office of Philanthropy, 28057 Network Place, Chicago, IL 60673-1280 or visit http://rush.convio.net/KStarin.

Kay Lynn (McDonald) Starin was born on March 4, 1939.She was the fourth of five children born to Stanley and Helen McDonald in Elgin. Kay died peacefully on March 31, 2021, with her family close by her side. She lived for many years with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was able to maintain an active social life until this last year due to Covid-19. She is survived by her longtime Life Partner, Larry Powers; her sister Karen (McDonald) Cummings; her daughters Amy Starin (Ann Schreiner), Beth Papke (Ross) and Jill Joerns (Mike). She also has two cherished grandchildren, Benjamin and Amanda Papke. She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers (Stanley and John) and her sister (Meralou Flood).

Kay was an athlete throughout her life; first as a varsity cheerleader in high school (Elgin High Class of 1957), then as a life-guard, a softball player, bowler and golfer. She maintained her exceptional putting skills through the last years of her life. Kay and Larry were great country western dancers. She loved playing card and dice games with her friends and family and continued to win more than her fair share of both. She loved her work as a swim instructor, delighting in teaching both children and adults the joy of swimming. She also worked as a bank teller, a customer service representative, and her favorite work position in the back office at Gromer’s Grocery Store in Elgin.

She loved to travel, and spent time with her family in New York, Paris, Australia and New Zealand. Kay and Larry explored the Caribbean from end to end, as well as the South and West US, before settling into spending winters in Naples Florida.

She enjoyed many long, loyal and loving friendships that went back to her days in kindergarten in the Elgin Schools. She was a member of ‘Club’ an exceptional group of women whose friendship has spanned more than 60 years. She was a member of Bunco and Red Hats and had an impressive wardrobe of red and purple. Her friends stayed close by her side through her journey with Alzheimer’s. Her family is so grateful for her special friends Shar, Kitty, Mug, Sally, Joyce, Carolyn, Carol, Hildy and Nancy.

She received excellent care through the Alzheimer’s Center at Rush University and from the compassionate staff at White Oaks Memory Care on Spring Street.

A celebration of her life will be held in May. The family would like to reach people who would like to be included in the celebration. Please contact Amy (astarin@sbcglobal.net) for more information.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to support the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center. Please send memorial gifts to the Rush Office of Philanthropy, 28057 Network Place, Chicago, IL 60673-1280 or visit http://rush.convio.net/KStarin.