Roxane Obenauf spent parts of five decades teaching in Mundelein

A retired teacher who spent parts of five decades working in Mundelein is being remembered as a dedicated educator and a kind friend.

Roxane E. Obenauf, 85, died June 1 at her Libertyville home.

A Waukegan native, Obenauf taught first- and second-graders at what was then called Washington Elementary School from 1962 to 1994, Mundelein Elementary District 75 officials said. The school now is known as Washington Early Learning Center.

Obenauf worked as a substitute teacher at Washington from 1994 to 2004, too.

"She really loved teaching," said Bonnie Khuen, a special-education aide at Washington. "A lot of people don't come back and sub. The ones that do really enjoy teaching."

Obenauf cared deeply about her students. Late in her life, she shared stories about them with her sister, Ursula Dayenian of Chicago.

"She had no children of her own, so she put all her energy into her (students)," Dayenian said. "She treated them as her own."

Obenauf also served as president of the Mundelein Elementary Education Association, the labor union for District 75 teachers.

Dayenian described her sister as a giving, kind person. She often would buy presents for co-workers and friends and loved going to lunch with them.

"She was a true friend to her friends," Dayenian said. "And she loved her family, and we loved her."

In addition to her sister, Obenauf's survivors include a brother, Michael. Obenauf's husband, Paul, died in 2013.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at McMurrough Funeral Chapel, 101 Park Place, Libertyville.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 121 E. Maple Ave., Libertyville.

Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Fremont Township near Mundelein.

Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Mundelein School District 75, in care of McMurrough Funeral Chapel, 101 Park Place, Libertyville, Illinois, 60048.