Angela O'Keefe

Angela "Angie" O'Keefe (née Fortney) peacefully entered the arms of her Savior and Creator on July 11, 2026, with her family by her side.

Angie was born June 8, 1965, the daughter of Henry and Linda Fortney. She graduated from Freeport High School before earning her master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Illinois University.

She married James O'Keefe on May 11, 1993, and together they were blessed with four children: Nicole, Michelle, Michael, and Benjamin. During her college years, the family resided in DeKalb before moving to Crystal Lake. She spent her last year in Kyle, Texas.

Angie devoted her life to "choosing joy" and spreading God's love to others. She never met anyone she wouldn't strike up a conversation with; offering her wonderful smile, heartfelt hugs, and a warm "Have a wonderful day!". She homeschooled her four children, was an avid reader, and loved to travel.

Her later years were devoted to living a Christ-centered life and to spending as much time as possible being "Grandma," which was the delight of her life.

Angie is survived by her mother, Linda Fortney; her children, Nicole (Milko) Nikolov of Crystal Lake, Illinois; Michael (Ashley) O'Keefe of New York City, New York; Michelle (Jacob) Almendarez of Kyle, Texas; and Benjamin (Judy) O'Keefe of Austin, Texas; her grandchildren, Jameson, Hayden, and Zion Nikolov; Maeve and Estes Almendarez; Aiden Taylor. Her sister, Beth (Sean) Lane; her brother, James (Donna) Fortney; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Henry Fortney, who welcomed her into Heaven.

Angie will be remembered for her unwavering faith, joyful spirit, and extraordinary gift for making everyone feel welcomed and loved. Her family was the greatest blessing of her life, and she found her deepest joy in raising her children and cherishing every moment spent with her beloved grandchildren. Though her presence will be profoundly missed, the love she shared and the example she set will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

A celebration of life will be held at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake, Illinois, on Friday, July 24, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., with a brief service at 3:00 p.m. In celebration of Angie’s joyful spirit and to honor her wishes, guests are invited to wear colorful attire.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established for Foundation For His Ministry, an orphanage in Mexico that Angie visited often.