Elizabeth Johanna Albanese

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Elizabeth spent her career helping people with mental health issues or have developmental and physical challenges.

Elizabeth J. Albanese-Kaige, age 73, died of complications from cancer at home on September 28, 2026. Elizabeth is survived by her husband of 32 years, Robert H. Kaige; her daughter, Aliana Ya Yun Kaige; and her step-daughter, Jillian Marie Kaige.

Born in Mishawaka, Indiana, to John and Anna Albanese (nee DeSantis), all four of her grand-parents were Southern Italian immigrants. Elizabeth's parents moved from Indiana to the Chicagoland area in 1969.

Elizabeth spent her career helping people with mental health issues or have developmental and physical challenges. Her longest position was Manager of Professional Placement with the Anixter Center from 1998, until retiring in 2016.

Elizabeth was an accomplished seamstress and craftswoman, who enjoyed working on creative projects: everything from constructing outfits for her doll collection, making Halloween costumes, and hemming christening gowns for friends. Her many other hobbies included cooking Italian specialties like Sicilian arancine, and ravioli. She enjoyed baking with family and friends.

Liz was a pet lover. Cosette, and Rogue are only two of the pets that she adored. There is a special regard for her African Grey parrot Meka. The Greater Chicago Cage Society is a rescue organization that the family of Elizabeth would love to raise awareness of in her honor. Elizabeth raised Meka from a hatching.

Elizabeth engaged in ancestry research, tracing her family's roots back many generations. This was a labor of love. Elizabeth helped her husband find relatives on the Tubb and Kaige side of his family.

Elizabeth attended many concerts, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Jimmy Buffett, Moody Blues, and John Prine to cite a few examples. Liz enjoyed musicals. Don Quixote, Mama Mia, come immediately to mind. She attended the play Chicago in both Chicago and in London. Liz was a movie buff, attending screenings at the Fine Arts Theater, and the movies presented at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

She is survived by her sister Mary A. Albanese, Mary’s husband Brian Boerner; her brother John Albanese, John’s wife Carmen (nee Macario); her sister Jacquie Kacena, Jacquie’s husband James Kacena; and many dear friends.

Elizabeth is also survived by nieces and nephews: Nicholas Kacena and his wife, Rachel; Jaliz Albanese and her husband Naledi Semela; André Albanese; Alexandra Kacena; as well as two grand nieces, Amaia Semela and Lily Kacena.

The family will receive friends on October 10, 2026, 12:00 PM-4:00 PM, at Salerno’s Rosedale Chapels, at 450 West Lake Street in Roselle, Illinois, 60172. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a worthy charity. Elizabeth will be interred in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.

Thank you for those who attended the visitation. We appreciate the support. 

Thank you to Donna for the donation to the American Cancer Society in Liz's name. Thank you to Susan Martin who donated in Liz's name to the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Church. Thank you to Chris Carrington for her donation to the Chicago Cage Bird Society. Thank you to the Patel family who donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.