Chelsea Lloyd, 29, died at her home Tuesday night. The cause of death is unknown.
Some of Lloyd's students at Tefft Middle School drew a mural of the woman they knew as their favorite teacher.
"It did hit hard. She was so young and it was so sudden. Things in this life are just so unexpected," said Keeley Hyland, colleague.
"To most of the students, she was more than a teacher, she was like a friend," said Rachel Jurina, student.
Lloyd taught physical education at Tefft and after school coached soccer at Streamwood High School. It was a busy schedule, but friends say she was doing what she loved, and it showed.
"I don't even remember a day without her smile," said Karina Morales, student.
Lloyd played soccer in college. She had taught in District U-46 for the last five years. On Wednesday, the district brought counselors in to help students at both schools deal with their grief. Her soccer team voted to go ahead with their scheduled game Thursday because they believe she would have wanted it that way. It has also been tough on many teachers who have lost a friend.
"She was just one of those people that always wanted to do the best that she could for her students," said Lisa Vazana, colleague.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy Wednesday afternoon, but the results were inconclusive, and they need further study to determine what caused her death.
A visitation will be held from 3-8 p.m. on Friday, September 9, 2011 at The Healy Chapel, 332 W. Downer Pl. Aurora. Lloyd's funeral will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at the funeral home with visitation from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at River Hills Memorial Park, Batavia.
In lieu of flowers, Chelsea's family requests that memorials be directed to the Chelsea Lloyd Women's Soccer Fund, c/o Aurora University, 347 S. Gladstone Ave. Aurora, IL. 60506. Healy Chapel: www.healychapel.com/?pagetype=memlist
Chelsea Llyod Biography:
www.healychapel.com/sitemaker/sites/HealyC1/obit.cgi?user=453197Lloyd
